Piccolo Flute Heard on Beatles' "Penny Lane" Up for Auction

From the Surrey Comet:

Ray Swinfield, who died in October 2019 age 79, played with a host of music stars including Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield and Liza Minelli.

He provided the flute on The Beatles’ classic 1967 hit single Penny Lane.

Many will know his work from repeats of the much-loved 1970s BBC children’s television programme Mr Benn, which featured his playing in each of the 13 episodes, including its famous theme tune.
 
Swinfield’s Gemeinhardt piccolo flute, which can be heard in Mr Benn and Penny Lane, is just one of 48 flutes and woodwind instruments owned by the late musician that will go under the hammer at specialist auctioneers Gardiner Houlgate in Wiltshire.

The sale, on behalf of Swinfield’s wife Lindy Swinfield, will include a range of flutes, saxophones, clarinets, instrument mouthpieces and musical scores from her husband’s 50-year career.

The Gemeinhardt piccolo flute is expected to fetch between £300 and £400, and a solid silver Haynes flute, also heard on Penny Lane, could reach between £1,800 and £2,500.

Swinfield also played saxophone on Paul McCartney's solo tune, "Ballroom Dancing." 

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