Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra (RPCO) has teamed up with East Midlands Trains (EMT) to help commuters find their lost luggage. More than GBP906m (€1m) of property is left on trains in the UK each year, with EMT finding skis, false teeth and 45 instruments.
The aptly named Lost Property Orchestra has performed a piece titled An Ode To My Former Owner to highlight the sheer scale of the issue. It contains 11,304 notes – the same as the number of items EMT found last year – and was even performed using some of the lost property.
“RPCO has performed with lots of weird and wonderful instruments over the years but never an inflatable cactus and surfboard,” said RPCO general manager Malcolm Wilson. “Creating, and playing, An Ode To My Former Owner, with the hope of reuniting lost property with owners, was an experience to remember.”
EMT is also launching a new service to help reunite people with their possessions: Found It!
Explained EMT managing director Jade Kelly: “We’ve all been there – you hop off the train when it reaches your destination, but your keys, phone or wallet carry on the journey without you. Our new Found It! service makes it much quicker and easier for owners to be reunited with their possessions and what better way to celebrate this 21st century match making service than through the medium of music.”
Check out the performance below:
RPCO is part of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and performs its pops programme.