310-year-old violin left on train, returned in parking lot

LONDON — Stephen Morris, a professional musician, was so exhausted after a long day in the recording studio that when he got off a train in southeastern London Oct. 22, he did not realize he had left his 310-year-old violin behind.

“Devastated” once he realized his mistake the following morning, Morris started a treasure hunt for his missing instrument — one of the few made by master craftsman David Tecchler in 1709. It is said to be worth about $425,000.

He wrote to Southeastern Railway and made public appeals on social media for its return. British Transport Police later released an image taken from CCTV of a man who might have taken the violin, asking him to get in touch.

As time passed, the possibility of its return seemed increasingly bleak. But Saturday, Morris announced a breakthrough.

“My violin is home safe and sound,” Morris wrote on Twitter before posting a photograph showing him kissing its side.

Morris told the BBC that the violin was in a “white glossy case” when he boarded the train from London Victoria to Orpington. Inside were two “quite historic” bows.

He received a private message on Twitter Thursday from someone who said he recognized the person in the picture.

“He was very apologetic; he said he wanted to hand it to me in person,” Morris said.

Both the violin and bows were “in tune” when they were returned to him Friday night at a supermarket parking lot in Beckenham.