Did hapless chandelier shifters do a Del Boy?
Smash causes £20k damage
IT is a delicate task which every Only Fools and Horses fan knows can go spectacularly wrong. So when workmen were asked to take down prized chandeliers in an A-listed building, they no doubt remembered the classic comedy scene with a chuckle.
Then they pressed on with the job ... and caused £20,000 of damage to two ‘particularly grand’ chandeliers.
The features were broken during a £4.2million refurbishment programme at Inverness Town House, where the 13 chandeliers are worth between £5,000 and £10,000 each.
Exactly how the damage came to be done was unclear last night but the end result was the same as the one after Del Boy and Rodney’s efforts – red faces all round and a hefty bill in the offing.
In Inverness, the three largest chandeliers are in the main hall of the Town House. Two of them were broken as they were being taken down by the contractors.
In the memorable scene from the BBC comedy series, Sir David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst as Del Boy and Rodney Trotter prepare to catch a chandelier in a dustsheet while their grandfather on the floor above loosens a bolt in the floorboards. Only when another chandelier falls to the ground and smashes do they realise they were poised to catch the wrong one.
Highland Council declined to give a detailed explanation of what had gone wrong at the Town House.
Inverness City manager David Haas said: ‘Through the operation of the contract we have for the renovation of the town house, which is a complex contract, we have a very clear set of practices and procedures which protects us.
‘The chandeliers are part of the fabric which we consider to be a very important part of our heritage.
‘During the works, as can happen, the chandeliers suffered damage, one of the arms was broken. We have undertaken remedial work so it will be fully restored to its former glory.
‘We have actioned it and we’re obviously looking to restore it as quickly as possible. It will be put back up. There are three in the main hall and they are particularly grand. It was those.’
Mr Haas confirmed that the damage had been done in the process of removing the chandeliers for the refurbishment programme.
He said: ‘Clearly they have a significant value as they are large chandeliers and any large chandelier is worth a significant sum.’
The Northern Meeting Association, which owns the chandeliers, said it had not been informed of the damage. Asked why the owner had not been told, Mr Haas said: ‘They know we take great care of the chandeliers and they know with something like this we will deal with it.’
A spokesman for the council said: ‘During works at the Town House, damage was sustained by two chandeliers.
‘This is currently a matter being considered by the council’s insurance section and as such we cannot make further comment.’
Inverness Civic Trust spokesman John West said: ‘It’s very unfortunate that this has happened but at least this is something that can be repaired.
‘Hopefully the people who caused the damage can restore them back to the way they were. Let’s hope no one notices the difference.’
‘Let’s hope no one notices’