Evidence that public transport announcements of "please make sure you take all your belongings with you when you leave the train" have very little impact on an evening commuter's brain is that one hapless Robert Napier left his violin on a train from London to Taunton, 2 and a half months ago.
No cheap fiddle, this. No. He'd just been to get it valued. It's a violin worth around £180,000 and a 17th century family heirloom to boot, jointly owned by him and his siblings.
Well, at least he didn't shatter it into hundreds of pieces.
As it hasn't turned up yet, delivered by a faithful, good hearted stranger instantly recognising the enormous sentimental as well as financial value of the instrument, his insurer is now offering a £10,000 booty for the safe return of the missing musical masterpiece.
The likelihood of this reaching the trusty London Transport Lost Property Office are therefore nil but we reckon they should try eBay, immediately.
Image courtesy of L*u*z*a*'s Flickrstream.
