Coventry’s very own Music Museum on Ball Hill, has launched an appeal to raise £4000 to buy a Stair Climber, so wheelchair using music fans can access the attraction too.
Director Curator Pete Chambers said, “When we were looking for a place to site the museum, we found a perfect spot in the celebrated 2-Tone Village, right off The Walsgrave Road. Sadly the museum is only accessible by the stairs. Up until now we have offered a video link for wheelchair users, but I desperately want everyone to see our chart topping museum, so we are going to be buying a device called a stair climber. Basically it’s a small wheelchair unit that has a box of tricks under it that enables it to smoothly climb the stairs with the wheelchair user on it, we have talked to the experts and this is the perfect solution to the way we are set up”.
It’s already made a world of difference to one of the Village regulars Steve Ward. Steve is wheelchair bound, having lost both of his legs, he has never been able to see the museum, that was until a demonstration stair walker was bought along, and the company AAT were kind enough to take Steve into the museum. “It was a tear in the eye moment all round” said Pete. “Steve was positively glowing, his smile said it all, he loved the place, and couldn’t believe there was so much there. We want to see more of those smiles, so hence the appeal.
People have been terrific, our first donation was an amazing £500 from local businessman Keith Higham of Keith Higham Technical Recruitment, and more has followed, despite money being tight, its humbling they can spare some for our appeal” Said Pete. “All kinds of folk have helped, Pete Continued, “Our 2-Tone family have as always been great, and we also got $150 from a Ska band from New York called “Some Ska Band” who made the money from t-shirt and merchandise sales at their gig, and we had no idea they were even doing it”. The appeal at the time of writing stands at £1,122.
If you would like to donate, please go to the website at www.covmm.co.uk or visit the museum in person from Thursday to Sunday 10 till 4.