A family were moved to tears as their music-loving grandad finally got back behind a piano.
Gordon Fishwick, from Anfield, loves playing the piano but doesn't own one himself. But with the return of Liverpool ONE's Tickle the Ivories festival - which sees free-to-play pianos placed around the shopping complex - the 87-year-old has been able to get back to doing what he loves.
Performing under the stage name 'Billy the Hat', the 87-year-old plays every fortnight, clad in a fetching red waistcoat and a rather flamboyant hat. Gordon's granddaughter India Fishwick, 19, spoke to the ECHO about her grandad, the importance of the free pianos to him and why her family believes he's 'the people's grandad'.
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India, from Huyton, told the ECHO : "From a very young age, my grandad played piano. His family couldn’t afford piano lessons, so they used to send his eldest brother Bert to piano lessons and he would come back and teach them all.
“If someone asks my grandad to play something, he can’t, because he can’t read music, he plays by ear. If you play a song to him, he’ll play it back.
“So when Tickle the Ivories came around in Liverpool city centre, he’s been doing it for years. He used to go with my nan, but when she passed away, we’ve all taken him - he loves it.
“He calls himself Billy the Hat - it’s like his stage name. I feel like so many people know him now - wherever we go, people are like ‘you alright Billy?’
India sent a video of Gordon playing to the ECHO, showing both his and passing shoppers' delight at his playing. India said the fact her grandad has a chance to play piano, despite not owning one at home, brings him plenty of joy.
She added: "Being able to play is so, so important to him. He made us cry at first - about four weeks ago, he was saying how happy it made him. He doesn’t have a piano at home, so this is his opportunity.
"He said how happy he was and how the pandemic has hit him a lot, but it makes him so happy to be on the pianos again and how much music means to him. He plays for other people, he plays to put smiles on people’s faces.
"It’s great that it keeps on going. Every year he looks forward to it - having a piano in the city centre makes his year."
Now in its 12th year, more than 100 performers will play during Liverpool One's Tickle the Ivories festival, ranging from solo pianists to those joined by dance groups. The event runs until September 11.
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