Adrian Chandler said by the end of the it it looked like he had been in a “really bad fight”
16:52, 22 Oct 2025Updated 16:52, 22 Oct 2025
Adrian Chandler walking in Wales – not far from where he had his accident(Image: Adrian Chandler )
A dad said he “knew something wasn’t right” after he tripped and lost feeling in his fingers. Adrian Chandler, from Birkenhead, and his wife had a child-free day and decided to make the most of it by heading to one of their favourite walks.
The couple headed to Talybont Reservoir in Wales, over a three-hour drive from Liverpool. There, they began their hike, making their way to the highest point of the reservoir, and it was here that an accident would cause Adrian to stop pursuing his love for a number of months.
The dad-of-three, who now lives in Gloucester, told the ECHO: “The little ones were sent off to their granny’s for a few days. We were getting on with work as normal, but given we had some free time, without the children, we went for a walk.
“We were at a high point and the edge of my boot just clipped the top of a beam. It was at a point where I had nothing to hang onto and just lost balance there and then. It was like one of those moments where you feel like you’re flying through the air, love the movies.
Adrian Chandler in rehearsal for last year’s project(Image: Robin Bigwood)
“It was a big fall. I landed all down my right hand side, bashed my ankle, and it is now all scarred along my calf. All my arms and stomach were grazed. I bashed my face as well. It looked like I had been in a really bad fight.”
Prior to the accident, Adrian had been preparing for Vivaldi: Plucked and Bowed concert. The event, being held at Liverpool’s The Tung Auditorium inside the Yoko Ono Lennon Centre, is being put on by La Serenissima, a UK-based baroque music group founded by Adrian back in 1994.
Adrian, a violinist, was initially supposed to be play in the concert but this is no longer the case. Instead, the musician will direct the group.
He said: “My first thought with the fall was about the concert. But then it quickly turned to my hands as I couldn’t feel my fingers. Thankfully, the feeling came back pretty quickly, but it was very obvious that all was not well.
Artistic Director Richard Hartwell inside The Tung, a 400-seat acoustical seating designed for a range of musical performances(Image: Andrew Teebay)
“Long story short, there was no way I was going to be able to play. I knew that right away. I have had private medical insurance and have done since I left college. I have never used it, but it was perfect for this. When I removed my top, with the shoulder specialists, he knew what was wrong right away.”
Adrian had ruptured two of the tendons in his right shoulder. He was told that if he didn’t go ahead with surgery, he might not be able to ever play the violin again. With this at the forefront of his mind, the dad decided to go under general anaesthetic for an hour-and-a-half operation on Friday, August 15.
After this Adrian was placed in a sling for three weeks, a time he said he was “barely able to doing anything” including shower. Since then, the musician has been in recovery, now being able to play the violin 45 minutes a day.
The Yoko Ono Lennon Centre, home of the Tung Auditorium(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
He said: “It’s still not a given that all is going to be alright, but I know ive still a few years of left playing in me. I’m excited to return to Merseyside on Friday. I don’t have a Scouse accent anymore. I had a strong one before, so I’ll absolutely glad to hear a good strong accent again.”
La Serenissima will return to Liverpool with a rarely heard programme of Vivaldi’s music for plucked and bowed strings, featuring mandolin virtuoso Raffaele La Ragione. The concert will be held on Friday, October 24 at six pm with tickets available for £20.
Artistic director of The Tung Auditorium Richard Hartwell told the ECHO: “The concerts this season reflect The Tung Auditorium’s dedication to presenting music of the highest calibre across a range of genres.
“We’re thrilled to once again be bringing so many fantastic musicians to our world-class concert hall. We look forward to welcoming audiences old and new, and hope many will join us this autumn and in the run-up to Christmas.”