The business was started by Tony Foster-Waite in 1968. Prior to this he was apprenticed in 1951 to Henry Willis III in London. Having worked his way through the factory he was then taught the skills of voicing by Henry personally and this has remained one of his favourite aspects of the work ever since. Apart from our own voicing he also carries out voicing for other organ builders. Whilst with Willis he worked on many prestigious organs and, when still very young, he was given, among many others, St. Paul’s Cathedral to look after. A different section of this had to be tuned every Friday evening after the Cathedral closed to the public and this organ became very special to him.
One of his few claims to fame is that he played for part of a Service there once.
Our first workshop was on the coast in Gosport, Hampshire but in 1975 we realised that it would be far better if we were inland a little and we moved to a small workshop in the centre of Newbury. In 1981 we bought the Methodist Chapel and we have been here ever since.
The workshop is 2000 sq. ft. and we are a staff of three with other associates that we can call on if the need arises.
1951 - apprenticed to Henry Willis III
1968 - company founded
1975 - moved to Newbury
1981 - purchased current workshop
1996 - founder member of the IBO
