A SPECIALISED Bedford business, offering quality pre-owned CDs and DVDs, moved into bigger premises last week: a sure sign of success.
The new Words and Music shop is just two doors up on Hope Street.
In addition to extra space, customers now enjoy back-door access to the increasingly popular Duke of Bedford Inn Courtyard. The move and the music now spilling out onto the courtyard have been welcomed by fellow tenant, Sandy Bishop from Chatterbox, a hair salon.
Nicky White, the previous owner of what is now Twigg and Co. fashion boutique, said, “The courtyard will have a lovely new vibe now.”
Charles Brett, Bedford’s “Mr Music”, together with Words partner Gina Buijs, launched the business 18 months ago in a tiny retail space on what is known as The Hope Street Hub, a row of brightly painted shops with verandas.
“The focus is on the classical music genre and opera,” said Brett.
“But there are also contemporary categories offering hundreds of titles including jazz, Broadway shows, film soundtracks, nostalgia, etc.”
He built the collection over the past 38 years and it is safe to say that, when it comes to classical music, it is probably the most representative selection in the country. Shops of this type hardly exist in the cities these days.
The selection of second-hand and recently added stock of “new books” includes plenty to interest those looking for something different on current affairs or excellent fiction titles.
The DVD rental library boasts 400 titles for rent with the proceeds being donated to the Bedford Country School Learner Bursary Fund. The selection is constantly updated with new releases.
Charles Brett comes from a technical background and has extensive experience in project management both in South Africa and the UK. From an early age he has been obsessed by music, building up a formidable encyclopaedia of personal knowledge about music and the people who make it. Wherever he has lived, he has run music appreciation societies.
Shortly after moving to Bedford he started promoting classical music concerts in conjunction with Pam Golding Properties – including the Sunday midday concert during the Bedford Garden Festival which has become a calendar date for many enthusiastic Bedford visitors.
He also ran a music appreciation society at his home for several years but now devotes that time to the shop and teaching music appreciation at the Bedford Country School. Brett is the deputy head and bursar of the school – busy people do more.
Words and Music is open on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons from 14:00 to 16:30 and on Saturday mornings from 09:00 to 12:00.
To arrange a special opening, contact Charles Brett on 076 325 7149 or bandct@r63.co.za.