‘The Professor [Sibelius] was going by train to Helsinki. At Järvenpää station he noticed, however, that his shoelaces were undone. And so he went to the nearby shop, Lehtonen’s, and asked the shopkeeper to tie them, as he himself couldn’t do so. Having received the assistance he required Sibelius was full of admiration for how Lehtonen was able to tie the laces so correctly.’

(Source: Jean Sibelius ja kotiseutu [Järvenpää Jean Sibelius 2008] - my own translation)

Now I am posting this on 1st April. I promise that I have relayed the story faithfully… but is it true?

A photo of Lehtonen's shop is below.

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April 1st or not, I vote "True", because you have to love stories like that one...

Well, in the British Royal family I can see Prince Charles seeking assistance in having his shoe laces done up, but surely not Sibelius. Even allowing for his Aristocratic leanings!--kullervopete.

Well, I said "yes"... though I am rather skeptical; I'd like to see how all this plays out, actually.

Andrew, any chance of clearing up this shoe laces teaser?--kp

I fear that we shall never know the truth. The story has been published in a few places but I can't see any independent means of verifying (or disproving) it. My own view is that it surely can't be wholly true - perhaps there is a grain of truth somewhere (maybe a lace was broken and needed urgent replacement) but I would believe - or hope - that it has been embellished somewhere along the way!