A FOUNDING member of the Regent Centre in Christchurch has generously donated a grand piano to the popular arts centre.

Janet Townend, from Mudeford, was one of the founding members of the Regent and, along with her husband Kit, was instrumental in launching the Regent as the arts and entertainment centre of Christchurch in 1983.

The piano, a state-of-the-art Bluthner Irmler Europe Boudoir Grand, will make its debut on the Regent stage on Tuesday, October 21 for Swinging at the Cotton Club.

Regent Centre manager Greg Rawlings said: “I can’t thank Janet enough on behalf of the board, the staff and the volunteers at the Regent for her extremely generous gesture.

“I had only just mentioned to the board that we would be needing a new Grand Piano for our prestige stage shows, when Janet just told me to go out and get it.

“Janet has been a stalwart supporter of the Regent from day one and we are all very grateful to her.”

Janet helped to clean, repair and refurbish the Regent in 1982, following its closure as a cinema and bingo hall.

She remains a member of the board of directors.

Supplied by the Piano Agency, which is run by Martin and Gill Wilson, the grand piano replaces an electronic Yamaha.

Concert demands meant there was an increasing need to supply incoming artists with the real thing but the old model will still be used in the studio for rehearsals, plus drama and dance classes.

Janet said: “I am really looking forward to the new Grand Piano’s first performance on stage at the Regent.

“Swinging at the Cotton Club with the Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra and the Jiving Lindy Hoppers promises to be an unforgettable evening.”