Clapton gives school a music lesson

A school concert by rock superstar Eric Clapton was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the staff, pupils and parents who watched it, a head teacher said today.

Clapton, 57, swapped the world’s greatest concert venues for last night’s event in the school hall at Birkdale School, Sheffield.

His 17-year-old daughter Ruth is a sixth-former at the fee-paying school and the guitar legend agreed to stage the performance to raise money for music and computer equipment.

Demand was so high for the private concert that names had to be drawn out of a hat for the 790 tickets.

Head teacher Robert Court said Clapton performed some of his classic tracks before taking questions from the audience.

Mr Court said: “Playing such an intimate venue will have been quite a change from the stadiums Mr Clapton is used to. His performance was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all those involved and we are very grateful to him for giving up his time in this way.”

He said the concert raised more than £10,000 (€14,656) which would be split between a drug rehabilitation centre in Antigua supported by Clapton and Friends of Birkdale School.

Mr Court said the Friends would use the money to buy musical instruments - particularly starter instruments such as small violins – and IT equipment.

Clapton became a legend in the sixties with bands like The Yardbirds and Cream but is perhaps best known for classic songs such as Layla and Wonderful Tonight.