‘Seeing the King play a carrot recorder was surreal’

A community music leader said it was “surreal” to witness the King playing a carrot recorder at Windsor Castle.

Lucy Revis, director of Sheffield Music School, was invited to a reception for hundreds of people who contribute to music in their local areas.

“I really want the people of Sheffield to know about the music here, and this raises our profile – I was so grateful to be invited,” she said.

“There was a bit of a surreal moment… I was standing with champagne in my hand, turned around, and there was the King playing a carrot. You don’t see that every day.”

The London Vegetable Orchestra brought instruments, including the carrot recorder, to the reception.

The 350 guests included leaders of community music groups and music-related projects, many of whom are volunteers.

Temporary side effects from cancer treatment led the King to cancel a string of engagements last week, but he was described by guests as “in great spirits”.

As well as the school, Ms Revis directs Tracks, a project offering workshops and performance opportunities.

The project had been struggling to fund all the services it wanted to offer, until Ms Revis made a successful bid to the Ed Sheeran Foundation earlier this year.

The grant will be used to set up a new youth club and take on more alternative provision students.

Sheeran visited the music school last May and took an interest in the Tracks project, which Ms Revis said was “incredible”.

“I’m a big Ed Sheeran fan – not just because he gave us money,” she joked.