John Weston Thomas (25 January 1921 – 1992) revived the tradition of Welsh harp making. Thomas was born in

Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...

. After spells in the merchant navy, and teaching carpentry, he began making harps, originally with the aid of old instruments and illustrations, as there was no existing harp maker to teach him. Although the harp is firmly associated with Wales, at the time he was the only harp maker in Wales, and one of three in the whole of

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

. John Weston Thomas had three students, these were Alun Thomas (his son), Bryan Blackmore (in Pembrokeshire) and Allan Shiers (in

Llandysul Llandysul is a small town and community in the county of Ceredigion, Wales. As a community it consists of the townships of Capel Dewi, Horeb, Pontsian, Pren-gwyn, Tregroes, Rhydowen and the village of Llandysul itself. Llandysul lies in sout ...

); all three are still working as harp makers. John Weston Thomas died in Pembrokeshire in 1992 having worked until shortly before his death.

External links

Alun Thomas

References

*Rosser A., ''So Long To Learn - John W. Thomas 1921 - 1992''. The Pembrokeshire Press, Fishguard 2005 {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, John Weston 1921 births 1992 deaths Businesspeople from Cardiff Harp makers British musical instrument makers 20th-century Welsh businesspeople