School given instruments played alongside Beatles

Dawn Limbu & Steve Yablsey
BBC News, Bristol
BBC Four schoolchildren, three boys and a girl, playing musical instruments in a music class. The boy on the far left has an electric piano, the boy on his right has an acoustic guitar, the girl in a middle has a trombone and the boy on the far right has an electric guitarBBC
Gordano School has been donated a collection of instruments that have been on stage with music legends

Musical instruments once used on stage alongside acts like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix, have been donated to a school.

The instruments were gifted by a late musician known as Digger, who was the grandfather of two pupils at Gordano School in Portishead.

After his death, his family decided to pass all his old musical equipment, including an electric piano, guitars, keyboards, and wind and brass instruments, to the school.

"It's wonderful that Digger's instruments will now be used to inspire a new generation of musicians," said Dr Martin Humphries, head of music.

After putting a social media call out asking for unused musical instruments, Dr Humphries said the school had received donations from students and families.

Digger was described by the school as a community-spirited musician with a passion for performing, and who taught students to play for much of his life.

His band played as a support for the likes of Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, and The Beatles, with the instruments donated having shared a stage with the famous names.

Gordano School A teenage girl playing a piano while singing into a yellow microphone. She has long, straight brown hair and wears a dark green long-sleeved top with a silver pendant necklace. A red drum kit and some navy-blue curtains can be seen in the foreground.Gordano School
Pupils at the school say they are excited to play the new instruments

Ian Hawkins, musical technician, said: "It's great to have new instruments - it perpetuates musicality and it perpetuates musicians, which is wonderful."

Pupils have also expressed their gratitude, saying the donation would provide opportunities for students to learn new instruments.

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