Beatle piano keys prove a hit

KEYS from the piano on which Beatle John Lennon learned to play proved a big hit at the Cheshire Show – thanks to Lymm piano tuner David Finegan.
Visitors to the show at Tabley, near Knutsford were able to run their fingers over the ivories on David’s stand.
David, who runs Cheshire Pianos, explained how the ivories came into his possession.
Four years ago he was asked to refurbish an old Bluthner Grand at Calderstones School, in Liverpool.
He said: “It was in a pretty poor state of repair with around 40 per cent of the keys damaged but we were successful in refurbishing it and it is now still on the school stage where it was in John Lennon’s day.”
David was exhibiting a stylish modern grand piano and a 100-year-old Bluthner upright at the show, but the big attraction for many was his unique big of Beatles memorabilia.
He has framed the keys, individually, for posterity, together with a picture of John Lennon
The Beatle attended Calderstones – then known as Quarry Bank School – between 1952 and 1957 – teaching himself how to play the piano and forming his first group, The Quarry Men.
David said: “I was lucky enough to have grown up in Liverpool at the time of the Merseybeat and the Beatles have always meant something very special to me.
“Music has always been in my family, too – my father sang with the Swinging Blue Jeans”.
Picture: David, with Samantha Drysdale, also from Lymm, and one of the framed ivories.