Musician rediscovers viola she played 40 years ago

A music teacher rediscovered an 18th Century viola she had as a teenager 40 years ago when one of her students began playing it.

Marion Fleetwood, from Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, realised it was the same instrument after her student Elisabeth opened the instrument's case.

The viola was given to them both by the Denne Gilkes charity, which has awarded scholarships and lent instruments to more than 600 students since it was set up in the 1970s.

Ms Fleetwood, who had the instrument for three years, said she had been given it when she was 15 "to advance my playing, because I'd shown promise apparently".

"The fund exists to support young musicians who otherwise wouldn't be able to have access to really great instruments," she said.

Four decades on, her pupil Elisabeth opened the case and revealed the same instrument.

The teacher said: "She played the C string and that was it.

"I suddenly remembered she was my baby and I looked after her, because she wasn't mine.

"I knew she was on loan, so I had to take care of her and so yes it is a bit of a love affair."

Elisabeth said she felt "really like grateful that I've got the instrument".

She added: "Every time I pick it up, I think about who's played it."

The charity was set up in honour of Denne Gilkes, a former voice coach for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Denne Gilkes Memorial Fund chairman Tim Raistrick said: "This gives young musicians or actors some support towards their training or perhaps the purchase of an instrument in the case of musicians.

"Without that, some might have given up. It just gives them a spur on.

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