Mum of two who returned Sir Paul McCartney’s bass guitar 50 years on is hoping to get a reward

THE mum of two who returned Sir Paul McCartney’s bass guitar to him after it was lost for 52 years is hoping to get a reward for her honesty.

When Cathy Guest, 52, returned the Hofner 500/1 electric bass to the ex-Beatle she put a letter in the guitar case detailing her cash struggles — as she supports two kids at university.

She is waiting to hear back but “is aware of Sir Paul’s gratitude”.

The guitar was her late husband Hadyn’s, who got it off his brother Graham, and had been in her loft in Hastings, East Sussex, for 20 years.

Stolen from a van in 1972, it was sold to a pub landlord for “a few pints” but is now said to be worth £10million.

Cathy added: “My husband inherited it when another family member died and he’d had if for years.

“He had no idea where it came from.

“He was a keen musician and used to play all the guitars at home, including Paul’s bass.

“We both loved music and I still go to gigs every weekend.

“I spoke to the security there and that’s how it all got started.

“His people sent me pictures of the instrument they were looking for and I sent back pictures of the one I had.

“They confirmed it was the actual bass they were looking for.

“After that, they send somebody round to pick it up.”

Cathy added that Macca’s team had promised a reward for the return of the guitar which he originally bought for £30 in Hamburg in 1961.

She added: “I’ve still got the offer open with them and I’ve taken advice.

“It’s part of rock n roll history and it’s not like they’re a small band.”