I started my apprenticeship at T.W.Howarth, the oboe makers in 1981. Whilst there I undertook all the stages of manufacture, from wood turning to component manufacture. After an initial period I was trained to make mechanism and assemble oboes for the student instruments.
When suitably trained in that department I moved onto the handmade instruments, making professional oboes.
After a brief period with the flute repairer Duncan Crawford, I returned to Howarth to undertake the design and set up of the clarinet department. Working alongside Jon Steward we collaborated to produce the Howarth S2 clarinet and later to produce the S3 model.
I was involved in the design of the mechanism and the jig making. Most of the fixtures and jigs are unique to instrument manufacture and I was able to make these in- house. Whilst not being an engineer I was soon to learn with the help of fellow collegues and numerous text books.
I left Howarth after 22 years to work independantly on a number of projects that had been on hold. I still undertake work from Howarth but also take on a variety of other woodwind instruments, repairing, restoring and manufacturing.