Story Donated By Lu Barker

I have always had a thing about accordions and have wanted one for many years (although musical ability for playing one is a different matter).  I came across this little beauty in Poverty Aid, Hyde Park when I was a student and particularly strapped for cash.  It was 27 pounds and was fairly wonky with buttons missing, broken strap and a couple of gaping holes in the bellows bit.

I immediately fell in love.  Also, it was emblazoned with the word ‘Barcarole’ - a name so similar to my own surname that I felt this was surely a sign that it should come home with me.  I called my partner to see what he thought.  Fortunately he agreed that, even though we only had 30 pounds to our name, that 27 of them should be spent on the broken accordion which bore a similar name to mine.  Five years on, it stills bring joy to the household and I don’t recall much about being skint the month that I bought it!
Lu Barker