RENOWNED pianist Derek Paravicini gave a surprise performance for his former teaching assistant, Linda Rootes, at the care home where she lives in Thames Ditton.
Linda supported Derek with his learning for 12 years while he was at Linden Lodge School, a specialist school in Wimbledon which supports children living with visual and sensory impairments.
Born prematurely, Derek is blind and has autism. His musical talent was visible from a young age, and by 10 years old, he was already turning heads as a concert pianist.
The surprise performance took place at Thames View, the care home where Linda lives, and was arranged by a friend who also used to work at Linden Lodge.
Home manager Paul Fenech said: “Linda’s a very special lady. She had a wonderful career supporting children living with visual impairments, and the event just goes to show how much she meant to those children in turn.
“We love having Linda as part of our community at Thames View. The performance was such a treat for everyone that calls Thames View home, and we’d love to have Derek back to play for us again in the future.”
Derek’s talents on the piano are not confined to set genre or style, and he enchanted Linda and her fellow residents at Thames View with a huge variety of pieces and songs. From Chopin and Debussy to Barry Manilow and Frank Sinatra, the audience delighted in his proficiency across every type of music.
Linda is pictured with her son Michael enjoying the recital.