A RENOWNED concert pianist who is one of Queen Elizabeth the Queen
Mother's favourite musicians has had his fingers slashed in a knife attack.
John Lill was mugged near his home in Hampstead, north London, the
afternoon after performing at a concert for the Queen Mother in King's Lynn,
Norfolk. He sustained deep cuts to both hands after grappling with two men
who mugged him at knifepoint in the early evening.
Mr Lill, who was on his way home from the Tube station, called police on his
mobile phone. The attackers fled with a laptop computer, a compact disc
player, a radio and a personal organiser, all worth more than £3,000.
The virtuoso, who won the International Tchaikovsky Competition in
Moscow in 1970 when he was 26, was returning from King's Lynn, where he
had performed Beethoven's Appassionata Sonata the evening before for the
Queen Mother.
Mr Lill, who is recognised as a leading interpreter of Beethoven and was
awarded the OBE for services to music in 1978, said yesterday: "It is
incredible that this can happen in the middle of an afternoon on a leafy street.
I'm sad to be so pessimistic, but this is worse than any country I've ever been
to."
His wife, Jacqueline, said: "John called me from the station to say he would be
back home in 10 minutes. The next thing I heard was of this dreadful attack
just around the corner. Two men on a motorcycle demanded money. John
refused and they grabbed him and stabbed him in the left hand. He rushed to
the Royal Free Hospital, where the wound was stitched up."
She said her husband's hands swelled to three times their normal size, but it
was hoped that he would make a full recovery.
~*~
Palace ballroom opens(Electronic Telegraph)
THE ballroom at Buckingham Palace is to be opened to the public for the first
time this summer.
The 120ft by 60ft Palace Ballroom - which was opened in 1856 - is the
largest room in the Palace and is the centrepiece of its magnificent staterooms.
It was completed in 1855 to the designs of James Pennethorne and Ludwig
Gruner, then substantially remodelled between 1904 and 1907 for Edward
VII, and again in 1911, when the Imperial Shamiana from the Delhi Durbar
was used to make the Throne Canopy.
Some 48 heads of state have been entertained by the Queen at banquets in
the ballroom, and 1,500 guests attend a diplomatic reception there each year.
The ballroom was also the venue for the Prince of Wales's 50th birthday
celebrations.
~*~
ALERT AS WILLS' PAL
BURGLED(The Sun)
By MIKE SULLIVAN
and CHARLES RAE
ROYAL security is on alert after a break-in at
the home of one of Prince Charles's closest
aides.
The thief took a high-powered rifle belonging
to his former equerry Mark Dyer, 34 - who is
also a close friend and confidant of Prince
William.
Cops fear documents containing phone
numbers for Charles, William and other Royals
were also taken.
A source told The Sun: "There is concern over
security because of Mr Dyer's close relations
with the Princes.
"He has details of all their movements."
Mr Dyer, a former captain in the Welsh Guards,
is a key member of the "Throne Rangers" - the
group of William's close friends.
The source added: "He is constantly on the
phone to William and often visits him at Eton.
"As well as helping William to prepare his gap
year, he has also been giving him advice on a
career in the armed services. He is a valued
and trusted friend."
The burglar, thought by police to be an
opportunistic thief, broke into Mr Dyer's home
in Earls Court, South West London, on Friday.
As well as the licensed hunting rifle, the thief
took ammunition and a sight for the weapon,
plus a pair of cufflinks - a present from
Charles.
A Royal source said: "We are very concerned
to hear about the burglary at Mark's home."
Mr Dyer, nicknamed Captain Charming by
female staff at St James's Palace, once dated
royal nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke.
He now works in the brewery industry.
Last night he was thought to be away with
Prince Charles.
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