I OFTEN read pieces from the Guardian to my father, whose eyesight is poor.
The letter inquiring whether an expensive piano featured in the plans for the Memorial Hall made him laugh, and he regaled me with memories of pianos in various spots in Beverley, where he often accompanied artistes. Your readers might be amused a
t some of his tales.
The first piano at the Memorial Hall, used in the 1959 operatic society's Merry Widow looked quite impressive, a large grand, but its works interior left much to be desired.
It had been given by the Marble Arch cinema when it closed. When that finally 'gave up the ghost', the next – an upright, was also given by the Malt Shovel pub, when it was pulled down. My dad said it was 'clapped out' and reeked of beer.
A member of the operatic society was a piano tuner called Grant, and worked miracles annually to get it up to pitch for their productions.
Another comical piano tale concerns Fleming House, where my father was rehearsing for a concert, and found some notes didn't play. He opened the lid and removed a plate and a half-eaten pie! After that, the piano did play, but not of tune.
I wonder if Placido Domingo has such problems?
Margaret Fisher, Church Lane, Beverley
