It all began when local estate agent and cast member Neil Haydon was miming a violin virtuoso piece at rehearsals for the All Saints Amateur Dramatic Society production of Orpheus in the Underworld at the Lancastrian Hall in Swinton.
He accidentally caught the bow just beneath the edge of the top section and it came away in his hands to reveal a faded label which read: ‘Stradivarius 1793’.
The violin hadn’t been played for 10 years and was last used as a prop for a production of Fiddler on the Roof.
As can be expected the members of the group were delighted at what could possibly be an incredible cash windfall.
Chairman Dave Bamford promised that All Saints would not be the only amateur dramatic group in the area to benefit if it turned out to be a product of the legendary Stradivari violin-making dynasty.
To give you an idea of current prices for these most prized of musical instruments, in 2011, a 1721 violin was sold at auction for an eye-watering $9.8 million.
Mr Bamford said: “We would set up a trust fund and use the money from the sale for the support of other groups like us in this part of the world.”
No less an expert that Tim Winnacott from Sotheby’s – who would later find television fame as the presenter of BBC’s Bargain Hunt – was contacted about the violin but warned that there were many fakes in circulation.
Excited members of the cast and crew went along with the violin was to Forsyth’s music shop on Deansgate in Manchester, where they were given the shattering news that it was utterly worthless.
The staff told the disheartened group that the instrument wasn’t even worth repairing and given its tatty condition advised to write the violin off.
“In a way I am relieved that it’s a fake as we have already had a few cranks contacting us as an amateur organisation, there might have been difficulties dealing with such a lot of money, now let’s get on with the show,” said Dave rather stoically.
Further bad news was to follow with the news that their £7,000 production of Orpheus in the Underworld was set to make a £2,000 loss, adding insult to injury.
On a brighter note the All Saints Amateur Dramatic Society is still very much flourishing and perform regularly at The Lowry theatre on Salford Quays with recent shows such as Sweeney Todd, Rent and The Full Monty.
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