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Sir Mick Jagger may be one of the most recognisable rock icons on the planet, but on Wednesday he took a step back in time, returning to Dartford Grammar School in Kent, the place where his extraordinary journey first began. The surprise visit delighted staff and students, many of whom had no idea that the Rolling Stones frontman would be walking through the corridors that helped shape his early years.
The 81-year-old music legend also stopped by The Mick Jagger Centre, the performing arts venue named in his honour, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The centre has become a vital creative hub for the local community, offering music, theatre, and arts programmes for young people across the region. To mark the milestone, a series of special events, concerts, and workshops are taking place, making Jagger’s return even more significant.
Speaking during the visit, Sir Mick expressed heartfelt gratitude for the influence that music teachers and arts educators had on his life, and continue to have on the lives of young people today. He said:
“I would like to offer my thanks to all the music teachers at The Mick Jagger Centre and at the school who inspired children and young people in their musical careers, music and the arts to help us to understand what it’s like to be human, what it’s like to express our feelings and emotions.
“Singing and playing is a great way to express your feelings, whether they are feelings of anger, angst, tenderness or love.
“Music also brings us together in a common experience, whether we are singing in a choir, playing here in Dartford, or listening to a band at Wembley Stadium.”
His words resonated deeply with staff, students, and fans alike, a reminder of how music has been at the heart of his life since long before global fame came calling. Jagger famously met fellow Rolling Stones member Keith Richards while attending the same school, forming one of the most important musical partnerships of all time. Their chance reunion at Dartford Station in 1961, when Richards spotted Jagger holding blues records under his arm, would ultimately change the course of rock history.
The school’s headmaster, Julian Metcalf, described the visit as “very special and the icing on the cake” during an already meaningful anniversary year. He added that the presence of such a significant alumni figure serves as real inspiration to the current generation of students, many of whom are heavily involved in music and the arts.
Sir Mick Jagger with the Duke of Kent at the opening of The Mick Jagger Centre in 2000 - Credit: Rebecca Naden/PA
For fans, the visit is another reminder that despite decades of fame, fortune, and sell-out world tours, Sir Mick has never forgotten where he came from. His return to Dartford was humble, warm, and filled with genuine enthusiasm for the next generation of performers and creators.
As The Mick Jagger Centre celebrates 25 years of supporting young talent, the timing of his visit could not be more fitting. It highlights not only his personal legacy but also the power of arts education to change lives, open doors, and build communities.
Even after more than 60 years at the top of the music world, Sir Mick Jagger is still inspiring, not just on the biggest stages, but in the very classrooms where his legendary story started.
