Bruce Welch, rhythm guitarist from The Shadows, has urged local people to support the growing campaign to help save the Landmark Arts Centre in Teddington.

Bruce, 78, who lives in Richmond is very familiar with the centre through his close friends and contemporary performers.

He told Teddington Nub News: "I know all about the Landmark and what a key part it plays in the lives of the local community in Teddington. It offers something for everyone whether it's fairs or exhibitions or different music events.

"It's important to support places like this, and ironically, we probably really appreciate and better understand its importance when it's not available like now in the middle of the pandemic."

Bruce, who was awarded the OBE for service to music in 2004, is looking forward to a new hour-long documentary called The Shadows at Sixty which marks the 60th anniversary of their great hit Apache and is due to be shown at 9.30pm on BBC4 on Friday night.(May 1st)

Guests interviewed include fellow Shadows band members, Cliff Richard and Hank Marvin and other rock stars such as Pete Townshend, Dave Gilmour and Brian May who talk about the influence the Shadows had on their musical journeys.

Listen to Apache from 1960

The BBC is promoting the programme with this short summary:

A look back at the incredible success of The Shadows as they celebrate their 60th anniversary. Starting from where they began as The Drifters to then becoming the backing band for Cliff Richard and enjoying huge success in their own right, the programme celebrates The Shadows' achievements across a time of constant change within the social, cultural and musical landscape.The Shadows were at the forefront of the UK beat boom generation and the first backing group to emerge as big stars in their own right. Using unseen archive, personal testimony and interviews with the band, along with those they influenced, including Brian May, David Gilmour, Pete Townshend, The Shadows at Sixty is not just a trip down memory lane, but an in-depth, often emotional story of a group's journey

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