Thanks to generous donations by ScotRail, local community and hundreds of people online, a new top-of-the-range “people’s piano” has been installed Dundee train station.
The instrument arrived today, Thursday 13 September, after the first piano at the station - donated by Dave Patterson as a tribute to his late wife Jean – had been vandalised last month.
Local man Greg Joiner quickly set up an online crowdfunding page to replace the piano. Hundreds of people contributed to the online appeal, and a total of £4,702 was raised.
The money has paid for a new upright Yamaha U3 piano and stool to be installed at the platform level of the station, which allows ScotRail staff to monitor it. ScotRail has also donated a protective cover to prevent further vandalism.
A new brass plate has been installed declaring the instrument to be “the People’s Piano funded by donations from the citizens of Dundee and friends of the city worldwide”.
The original plate dedicated to Jean, who had worked for ScotRail at the station, has also been reinstalled.
The new piano’s unveiling coincides with the opening of the £80m V&A Dundee.
ScotRail Area Manager Steve Ewen said:
“The community spirit shown to replace the piano has been fantastic.
“We’re delighted that the tribute to Jean is now back in the station for the people of Dundee and beyond to enjoy.”