Piano 76

Piano 76 was captured in the service area at Birchanger Green, near Bishops Stortford on the M11. The young man playing it, a young man who sounded entirely English but who appeared to be of sub-continental heritage, was very happy for me to take his picture and we agreed that it was still an acoustic piano. The pedals, for example, still seemed to work.

But looking more closely this afternoon, I wonder. But looking even closer, at reference 2, I think it probably was what it appeared to be. A reconditioned and redecorated, regular upright piano. Still and all, for the avoidance of doubt I should have lifted the lid.

Electric Umbrella appear to be a provider of musical experiences for those with special needs. A newish operation, a charity since 2016, based in Hertfordshire. See references 2 and 3.

I have also learned that these services are jammed between Bishops Stortford and Stansted Airport. I had not realised the two places were so close together. Maybe the village of Stansted has disappeared under the runway.

But inspection there reveals that this is not the case at all. Stansted Mountfitchet is alive and well, just off the top of the snap above, so called to differentiate it from the other Stansted in Kent. The original Mountfitchet was one of the Conqueror's chaps, hailing from Calvados in Normandy. See reference 4.

References

Reference 1: https://psmv5.blogspot.com/2023/07/piano-75.html.

Reference 2: https://www.electricumbrella.co.uk/.

Reference 3: https://youtu.be/OmhICs1oWz0. The story at YouTube.

Reference 4: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stansted_Mountfitchet.

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