When Alan Richards was a young student at Cambridge University, he fell in love. There was only one problem. He couldn't afford a wedding ring.
So he sold his beloved saxophone to buy one.
"The best investment I've ever made!" he would later say of his marriage, which was approaching its fortieth anniversary.
Alan's love of music never faded, however. Years later, he began collecting instruments again, eventually acquiring two saxophones and a clarinet. When he heard of Proud Partners' music initiatives, he decided it was time for them to make music in someone else's hands.
And what a difference they made.
The saxophones found enthusiastic new owners in Devon Small of the Artscape Wellington Youth Band and Luke Griessler, a young musician from Stellenbosch's Musica Perpetua orchestra. Alan's B-flat clarinet went to Ethan le Roux, a learner in the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre's Development Programme.
Another generous donor, graphic artist Colleen Brice, offered Proud Partners a beautiful violin she had originally bought to learn to play herself. It found a new home with Geneva Pekeur, a Grade 8 learner at Florida High School who was also part of the Hugo Lambrechts Development Programme.
Each presentation brought enormous excitement, heartfelt thanks and, most importantly, new musical opportunities for four talented young people.
To Alan, Colleen and the other generous people who have supported Proud Partners through the years, thank you.