Couple Moved Into a New Place and Heard Loud Music Next Door. When They Knocked, Something Beautiful Happened (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Three years ago,Lydia Penderand her husband, Andy, were moving into their new apartment in Honolulu, Hawaii, when they noticed music coming through the walls from their neighbor’s apartment. They decided to go over, introduce themselves and see what all the ruckus was about.

That’s when they met Derek Peart, a 98-year-old former English pilot in the British Navy. After chatting with him, they discovered the music was playing loudly because he wears hearing aids that weren’t picking up sound very well. So, the couple helped him adjust his hearing aids. While doing so, they noticed a piano in his apartment.

Later, the couple learned that Peart had taken lessons as a child but eventually stopped. When he got older, he realized he could just sit and play anything from memory, feeling his way on the keys. His late wife, Mickey, had encouraged him to play and even bought him the Yamaha piano he still plays today.

Derek Peart, 98, playing the piano.Lydia Pender

Lydia Pender

“He said he would play for us sometime, and that’s where the friendship started,” Pender, 33, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “We thought he was the coolest guy and wanted to hang out with him more!”

“First, he invited us over for tea, and we did that a few times,” she shares. “Then we had him over for wine, then Christmas cocktails, and eventually dinner, where I would cook for the guys at our place. Then he suggested playing for us, and we said we’d pick up dinner and asked what he would like. He said pizza was his favorite.”

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Derek Peart with Andy and Lydia Pender.Lydia Pender

Eventually, Pender started recording videos of their performances to send to her mom, who also plays the piano. Then, one day, she decided to post one of the videos toTikTok, hoping to spread some joy and show people just how special a person and musician Peart is.

But when the video went viral, amassing millions of views, Pender couldn’t believe it.

Lydia Pender with her husband Andy and 98-year-old neighbor Derek Peart.Lydia Pender

Through her videos, Pender hopes to remind people that friendships can span all ages. She says that from her friendship with Peart, she’s realized that spending time with elders is a gift, and she loves hearing Peart’s amazing stories and enjoying his piano skills.

She adds that, besides their monthly dinners, Peart will often call to say hi, or Pender and Andy will check in with him to see if he’s up for a visit, which they usually schedule a week in advance.

“We want to live next to Derek and enjoy his company as long as we can,” she says. “He’s extremely passionate about music and says it has kept him alive.”

“Another fun thing is that he loves animals; we have a cat named Biscuit that he absolutely loves to visit. Sometimes I bring him over to Derek’s so he can pet him for a little while,” she adds.

source: people.com