A TRUMPET worth almost £3,000 has been given to a teenage musician after it was left on the doorstep of an Oxford music shop with a note to pass it to a good home.

The handmade Schilike instrument, which is used by professional jazz trumpeters, was left anonymously outside the Allegro music shop, in Marston Road.

After a search for a talented state school musician, the trumpet has been given to Witney 16-year-old David Hepworth, who recently passed his grade eight exam with a score of 90 per cent.

Allegro owner Roger Baycock said: “It was just on the floor and there was no-one around. I often wonder whether anyone was in a car watching me pick it up.

“It’s the first time in 20 years I’ve had anything like this. I expected it to be a cheap ‘student’ trumpet and I was amazed when I opened the case, absolutely gobsmacked.

“They really are the top professional trumpets. They are handmade by a family in America and they are known in the trade as some of the best in the world.”

Having taken in the trumpet and carried out a £75 repair to its damaged bell, Mr Baycock contacted Peter Jeeves, who works for Oxfordshire County Council’s music service and has taught state school children to play brass instruments for 39 years.

Mr Baycock said: “I wanted it to go someone from a local state school who perhaps wouldn’t normally get this opportunity. I said to Pete ‘have you got a really talented trumpet player?’ and he said he knew exactly who to give it to.”

Teenager David, who recently sat his GCSEs at Wood Green School, Witney, and plays in the Oxfordshire Youth Big Band, was driven to Oxford with mum Esther and Mr Reeves without knowing he was to be handed the instrument. David, who wants to play in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and cites Canadian Maynard Ferguson as his favourite trumpet player, said: “I was really surprised.

“I’m really grateful to Mr Jeeves and the shop, and the person who left it in the first place.”

Mr Baycock added: “It’s an actual fairytale. I would like to know the history of it. There’s some special mutes on there that gives a clue that it was a professional person or a very talented amateur.”

Were you the person who donated the trumpet? Call Thom Airs on 01865 425422