Video: New piano for Leeds railway station thanks to YEP appeal

Nick Mitchell playing the new piano at Leeds City Station as station manager Sean Pearce and Melvyn Besbrode, who donated it, look on.

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A new piano has been installed at Leeds railway station after the original was ruined by vandals.

Northern, the UK’s second largest rail operator, made an appeal for a replacement through the YEP last month.

And now a piano, kindly donated by Holbeck business Besbrode Pianos, has taken its place on the concourse.

Shaun Pearce, station manager for Northern, said: “It was upsetting and frustrating when the original piano was vandalised and lots of customers were asking where it had gone.

“Thanks to Melvyn at Besbrode Pianos, we now have another one in place and encourage anyone to get involved and play it!

“The piano really adds to the customer experience and creates a fantastic atmosphere in the station.”

Melvyn Besbrode got in touch with Northern via social media after seeing our story.

“We saw the appeal asking if anyone could help by donating another piano and knew we wanted to help,” he said.

“This is a refurbished Daneman school piano and plays beautifully, so hopefully there will be plenty of accomplished or budding pianists coming through the station ready to keep others entertained.”

The piano stands in front of the various food outlets, providing entertainment for thousands of customers every day.

Stuart Garden, a professional pianist, was on hand this morning to introduce the piano back to Leeds and before long members of the public were getting involved too.

Nick Mitchell, 27, from Bramley, works at McDonald’s in the station.

He was delighted to see the piano back and was quick to take up the seat, playing Vanessa Carlton’s ‘A Thousand Miles’ and various Coldplay hits.

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