The violin and bow of tragic musician Helen Cookson are expected to sell for £8,000 at a Nantwich auction.
Cookson, who played for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, died of cancer aged just 36.
Now, 16 years later, her violin and bow are up for grabs at a two-day sale Cheshire auctioneers Peter Wilson on November 27-28.
They will be sold separately and are estimated to raise a total in excess of £8,000.
Helen (pictured above with conductor Libor Pesek) bought the violin from renowned Manchester dealer David Vernon Violins in 1978 on the recommendation of her teacher, the internationally recognised Rodney Friend.
Apart from being on occasional loan to Helen’s friends from the RLPO since her death in 1997, the instrument has stayed in its case on the top of the wardrobe in her bedroom.
“The decision to sell the instrument has been a difficult one,” her husband Ian said.
“But fine violins such as this are intended to be played. It is time to pass it on to someone else to own and enjoy.”
Helen was one of the youngest leaders of the Manchester Youth Orchestra and entered the Royal Northern School of Music to study violin and piano.
After turning semi-professional, she became a member of the world class Manchester Camerata chamber orchestra.
She joined the violin section of the RLPO in 1985 and toured with them all over the world.
In 1991, Helen was closely involved with Paul McCartney in the realisation of his semi-autobiographical Liverpool Oratorio, composed in collaboration with Carl Davis to commemorate the RLPO’s 150th anniversary.
The orchestra held memorial concerts for some years after her death to raise money to continue her outreach work and a plaque in her memory can be seen in the Philharmonic Hall.
(Pic: Chris Large, of Peter Wilson auctioneers, with the instrument)
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