Sir Mick Jagger makes surprise visit to old school in Dartford

Sir Mick Jagger has advised the next generation of musicians to “work really hard and not give up” during a surprise visit to his former school.

The Rolling Stones frontman visited The Mick Jagger Centre at Dartford Grammar School in Kent on Wednesday to mark the 25th anniversary of the facility.

The 82-year-old thanked music teachers at the performing arts centre who “inspired children and young people in their musical careers”.

Sir Mick told the BBC that young people aiming for a career in music needed “a lot of luck” and to “work really hard at it and not give up”.

He said that “music wasn’t much of a career” when he was growing up, but added: “That all changed very, very quickly in the early 60s and I got on that bandwagon.”

He opened The Mick Jagger Centre, home to the Dartford Music School and Dartford Symphony Orchestra, in 2000.

The centre launched a programme of events in October to mark its 25th anniversary.

Sir Mick said that visiting his former school “brings back a lot of memories and it’s nice to see the kids seem happy”.

According to The Mick Jagger Centre, the singer funds its Red Rooster project offering music tuition, including in local primary schools.

“If you can express yourself through song, drama, art, dance – all these things are important,” Sir Mick added.

“My involvement’s been honestly pretty minimal in a real way, but I do feel connected to it, and I think all the people involved with it have done a really wonderful job.”

The school’s headmaster, Julian Metcalf, said the return visit from Sir Mick was “very special and the icing on the cake”.

Sir Mick first met The Rolling Stones bandmate Keith Richards on a platform at Dartford station, forming a friendship that would lead to the band’s formation in 1962.

The town has several streets named after The Rolling Stones songs, including Little Red Walk, Angie Mews and Ruby Tuesday Drive.