Violin Stolen from Train
Joseph Maher, a 79-year-old professional violinist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, has reported the theft of his violin after it was taken from a train. The incident occurred on a Thameslink service to Cambridge last Friday when Maher disembarked at Blackfriars station.
Maher's violin, a 20th Century instrument, was stored in the overhead compartment and was stolen during the journey. Inside the violin case were two bows, one of which Maher had owned since he was 18 and considered to be of significant personal value.
"It's your arm," he said. "I had just had it refurbished by the original maker. It was totally personal."
Maher, who resides in Haywards Heath, has owned the violin for over two decades. He estimated that replacing the instrument would cost approximately £15,000.
"It's so personal," he added. "I loved it as an instrument. The financial loss is secondary to the personal loss."
Upon realizing he had left the violin on the train immediately after leaving at Blackfriars, Maher contacted station staff. They attempted to locate the instrument but informed him that the train could not be checked until it reached Cambridge, which was an hour and 20 minutes away.
After the train arrived in Cambridge, staff conducted a search but reported that nothing was found.
Maher, who has been a member of the London Philharmonic Orchestra since 1986, was able to borrow a violin from a colleague to perform in a concert on the day of the theft.
He expressed hope for the recovery of his instrument, emphasizing the difficulty in selling such a distinctive violin.
"I hope there is a reasonable chance of it being recovered and returned to me," Maher said. "I also hope the violin is difficult to sell on."
Police Investigation
British Transport Police confirmed that officers were notified about the theft on Saturday and that investigations are ongoing.
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