CRICKLADE Band has been offered a new base a month after it was made homeless with the closure of The Club.

The shock sale of the building where the band had rehearsed for some years meant members had to cast around for somewhere to play and to store all their gear.

But now both the performance band and the academy have new homes.

“It’s taken an immense effort to locate somewhere for all the band ‘family’ and their essential equipment,” leader Paul Hewer said.

“With a huge demonstration of online support, many offers of practical help and a great generosity of spirit it’s now announced that the performance band — that’s the big band — and its specially constructed stores will be accommodated at Cricklade Town Hall, with grateful thanks for the immense co-operation of the town hall committee.”

Cricklade United Church Hall was offered as a temporary base, allowing the band to continue with rehearsals for the new season. It also gave somewhere for the academy to practise.

“The Band Academy rehearsal base will continue to be at Cricklade United Church hall, with many thanks to the Church Council for all their help too,” said Paul.

Performance band members are due to make the move to the town hall at the end of this month and are planning a celebration housewarming concert on April 2 to showcase some of its new season repertoire. Academy players will also put in an appearance.

The programme for this year includes bandstand concerts in Chippenham and Swindon, appearances at Cricklade Festival in June and a performance at the rugby club’s 25th anniversary ball.

Band Academy members will be playing at the primary school fete in June and a School’s Out concert in July.

The Club was only the fourth home in the band’s 130-year-old history and when it was sold they were told they had just a couple of days to move equipment, including instruments they had collected over the years.

Last month the Advertiser revealed the building, which was at the heart of the town’s social life for many years, had been saved from developers.

Local couple Talia and Simon Middleton have bought it and plan to run it as an event venue. They are currently redecorating and hope to have it open by June.

Tickets for the housewarming concert, which starts at 7.30pm, are available from Cricklade Town Council offices in the High Street.