In 1995 Leslie’s Rudall & Rose flute was stolen. Did he ever get it back?
From Finbar Boyle - Irtrad list Wed, 6 Sep 1995:
“Leslie Bingham, one of the best-known and best-liked flute players in Ireland, had his flute stolen at the Ardoyne Fleadh in Belfast last month (1995). It is a Rudall & Rose and will probably be offered for sale soon. Below is
a description of the flute. Mouthpiece: End plug silver. Cork tuner missing. Bottom broad silver band. Barrel joint: African blackwood.Narrow nickle rings. Ist Piece: C natural key missing.Crack beside G hole. 2nd piece; Narrow nickle rings. 2 stitched cracks from upper ring. Long F natural key missing. 3rd piece: Bottom key missing. Top ring nickle. Bottom ring silver. All closed key holes blocked with turned wooden plugs. Box; Fitted box but does not quite fit the flute. Soft wood stained mahogany. Red baize lining. Original clasps missing. Chrome clasp fitted in centre. Glued cracks on lid (repaired). As you can see, this is a much-used instrument, but the very wear and tear it has endured might help to identify it. Leslie has had it for years and is very depressed at its loss. I’d be grateful if these details could be passed around among the fluting fraternity, and not just in Ireland; a guitar was stolen here in Dublin some years back (belonging, I think, to Pete Rowan) and turned up within a very short space of time in a music shop in Ohio. I’d be obliged if the details could also be passed on to your local instrument shop. If anybody can help”
For WFO2, he played a Sam Murray, so perhaps he did not get the R&R back, or passed it on to someone. You might check with his daughter Tara Diamond, or Finbar Boyle (he’s on Facebook and might remember).