Six-foot python turns up in musicians' van (From This Is Local London)

Six-foot python turns up in musicians' van

3:06pm Monday 8th July 2002

• Print
• Email
• Share

Musicians from a Woolwich church got more than they expected when they discovered a six foot snake in their hire van.

Members of the New Wine Church Band hired the van in Peckham to transport their instruments to a wedding ceremony in Westminster, on August 26.

But it was during their return journey to the church, the former Coronet cinema site, in John Wilson Street, that the python slithered into view.

The uninvited guest was first spotted by harmonica player John Walden, who said: "I was sitting in the back of the van with our guitarist when I saw the snake. I said "Hey Jon I don't want to worry you but there is a snake beside you."

"We stopped the van and got out as quickly as we could."

The five men, who stopped on the New Kent Road, called the RSPCA but kept being diverted to an answering service and eventually flagged down a passing police car. Officers spent 45 minutes trying to capture the slippery customer but it managed to evade them.

Staff at the hire company then tracked down the people who had previously used the van, who, in turn, set off from Folkestone to collect their pet.

Not prepared to leave the van at the road, one band member block up crevices inside the van with paper before driving back to the church, where they were met by the python's owners.

Choir musical director Andrew Junaid said: "The blessing was the snake remained hidden during the drive to the wedding, so we actually got there to provide the music.

"The last thing you expect when you rent a van is to get it complete with a live python."

September 2001

• Print
• Email
• Share