The Leicester Mercury reports that the guitar belonged to promoter David Allen, of Market Harborough in Leicestershire. In 2007, he had it signed by many major stars, also including Brian May, Pete Townshend, Bill Wyman and Gary Moore, with the intention of auctioning it for Rainbows, the hospice for children and young people. He had hoped to raise £20,000.
The classic Fender Stratocaster belongs to music promoter David Allen, of Market Harborough, who got it signed by musicians so he could auction it for the Rainbow’s children’s hospice for an estimated £20,000.
But after it had been signed by stars such as Jimmy Page, Mark Knopfler, Bill Wyman, Gary Moore and Pete Townsend, it disappeared.
An investigation was carried out by Parcelforce but they could find no trace of the guitar and donated £17,000 to Rainbows by way of an apology.
After Clapton signed the Stratocaster, it was due to be returned to Allen via courier company Parcelforce. But they were unable to find any trace of it, after which the company donated £17,000 to Rainbows as an apology for its disappearance. That remained a mystery until two weeks ago, when the guitar was spotted for sale online and the police were called in to investigate.
“During 2007 while operating music promoters Mad Hatter Concerts, I launched the Legends Signed Guitar Project to raise funds for Rainbows Hospice, which supports youngsters with life-limiting conditions across the East Midlands,” David explains. (rainbows.co.uk)
Now David, 59, has been reunited with the guitar and it will be auctioned for the Loughborough hospice as planned.He said: “I can’t believe we finally have the guitar back after all these years. We never expected to see it again.“A huge debt of gratitude goes out to those who notified us of the guitar’s whereabouts and to the police who acted so swiftly to ensure its safe return. They’ve been fantastic.“I am delighted to have it back and in some ways my faith has been restored.” (Leicestermercury)