My hobby is rescuing as many old pedal harps and fretted instruments that are uneconomic for professional restorers to progress and bring them back to a playable condition.
On leaving school in the early 70’s I did a 3-year apprenticeship in stringed instrument repair / restoration at Heathershaws music shop in Worthing. I had a great all-round training on most instruments with viola maker Julian Emery, Bob Kneller on Cellos and violins, Graham Wheeler electric guitars, Peter on woodwind and brass and Barry Feest classical guitar. It was here that I first worked on a harp and have always had one “on the go” as a hobby ever since.
Late 70’s I went on to work for CBS musical instruments in London and ended up as European Service manager for Fender Guitars and Rhodes pianos.
In the 80’s I opened Strings music in Southsea then in the 90’s expanded into sound system hire and permanent audio installations such as Ryde Arena, Southampton Airport, Tewkesbury Abbey and Portsmouth Guildhall.
Now I’m retired I can spend my time and resources finishing off the instrument projects that I started over the years.
