THE name for a new arts centre in Stowmarket, which will celebrate the legacy of late DJ John Peel and promote local talent, can now be revealed.

Elliot Furniss

THE name for a new arts centre in Stowmarket, which will celebrate the legacy of late DJ John Peel and promote local talent, can now be revealed.

The town's vacant Corn Exchange is set to be transformed into the John Peel Centre for Creative Arts.

People behind the plans hope the broadcasting icon's widow Sheila Ravenscroft will agree to become its patron and president.

Mrs Ravenscroft, who lives just outside the town, said the name chosen by the steering group was very fitting.

She said: “The arts centres that are everywhere else tend to be for gigs and the occasional art exhibition but we are hoping to be able to use the Corn Exchange for a lot more.

“I think it sounds very good. It's such an exciting project and it's so good they have been given more time to put things forward and prove that it's going to be worth having.” She said she was now considering whether to agree to become more involved in the project, which she believed would be an excellent facility for Stowmarket.

John Spitzer, Mid Suffolk District Council officer and a member of the steering group, said it had also been agreed that the group would work in partnership with the Stowmarket Town Forum.

He said the arrangement would be “mutually beneficial” and the forum had many good contacts that could help push the project forward.

He said: “They are a community interest company and have a funding officer and that will help us in the initial stage. It makes sense to incorporate with something that's already existing.”

The group is now looking for people with the necessary skills and experience to help form the management board.

Anyone with technical expertise, venue project management, accountancy skills, fundraising experience, knowledge of marketing, design, education and arts venue architecture can apply to join.

n If you would like to be on the board send a CV and covering letter to John Spitzer, Mid Suffolk District Council, Council Offices, 131 High Street, Needham Market, Suffolk, IP6 8DL.