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The lost violin played by Elisabeth Hunt

A £10,000 reward has been offered for the return of an antique 17th century violin, left on a train by its Marlborough owner.

Rob Napier, 67, from Kingsbury Street, was returning from having the 1698 Venetian instrument assessed by a London specialist when he left it on the train as he disembarked at Great Bedwyn.

Mr Napier said: "I was bringing the violin in its case back from London on Tuesday January 29.

"I caught the 12:18 from Paddington and got off at Bedwyn. I had put the violin in the luggage rack.

"I got off the train with my coat and my briefcase but completely forgot the violin until I was on the footbridge and the train was pulling out.

"I half thought of jumping over the bridge onto the roof of the train, but thought better of it."

Mr Napier immediately called the railway lost property office, but despite many phone calls and much correspondence, the violin has not reappeared.

Now a loss adjustor employed by Mr Napier's insurance company has offered a reward of up to £10,000 for the return of the violin, which is valued at around £200,000.

Robert Napier who accidentally left his £200,000 violin on a train

Mr Napier said: "We are all heartbroken by its loss. The violin belonged to my mother, Elizabeth Hunt, who had been a professional violinist and played second violin in the Ebsworth String Quartet in the 1930s and 1940s.

"She died, aged 93, in 2006 and left the violin to myself and my four brothers and sisters. I was going to lend it to my cousin, Libby Wallfisch, who is also a professional player."

The violin was made in 1698 by Matteo Goffriller of Venice and it is a case with a valuable Sartory bow.

Mr Napier said: "The violin and bow were in a rectangular violin case, covered in a close-fitting brown cover. It still had on it a label with my mother's name, Elizabeth Napier."

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the violin should contact Matthew Coles on 0870 111 0535 or email matthew.coles@dcla.co.uk

2:13pm Monday 14th April 2008

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