15/04/2026
It’s with a heavy heart we have to announce that my Nan Diane Cain, co-owner of The Musical has passed away at the age of 88.
Just like her Mother before her, Diane dedicated her entire life to music. Diane begun working at her Mother Dorothy’s shop aged 13 and only retired due to the pandemic at the age of 83 after being forced to self isolate. Her encyclopaedic musical knowledge was second to none.
More than anything, Diane’s happiness lied within her family and her shop. Both myself and my Mum Paula only became involved when Diane retired initially just to help out Tony, then started the monumental task of the shops restoration in 2020.
We’re all just so happy that Diane got to see the shops transformation, and the result of a labour of love these last 6 years. Diane was able to see the whole building restored, the shop front restored and her former Mothers living room transformed into a beautiful second shop floor. We’ve unearthed so much of the shops history, solved 60 year old mysteries and were even recognised with a Blue Plaque for being England’s oldest independent record shop.
We really have poured our heart and soul into this little old record shop and for that we know how proud she was, as she’d often tell us.
Record Store Day this Saturday will continue as planned as that is what Diane would have wanted and we will continue to post news regarding the day as normal tomorrow.
