It all began in the late 60s, ! There was a tv programme called Music Room introduced by the Guitarist John Pearse who was showing you how to build and play the Appalachian Dulcimer. There was guests on the show like Steeleye Span with Tim Hart playing an electric dulcimer . I built three very basic instruments , but that got me started on my first ever stringed instrument.

A few years later i came across the recordings of Roger Nicholson and listened in amazement at the music i was hearing, also by the American Howie Mitchell who also built his own instruments.

I ended up Getting in touch with Frank Bond in London , who made Dulcimers for Roger Nicholson and bought Three instruments over the next few years. On a visit to Roger Nicholson's i had the opportunity to find out about some other Dulcimers from the U.S.A and from Australia i purchased a Sunhearth ( California ) Dulcimer about 1975 and a Bill Docherty ( Australia ) Dulcimer in 1981. I also purchased a Blue Lion Dulcimer from the U.S.A in 1990.

Also in the 80s i learned the Mandola and started to play some Irish music and started to go to local Sessions in Glasgow. In the late 90s i had the chance to get my first Hurdy Gurdy and spent years trying to learn how to play it ! ten years later when i bought a second Hurdy Gurdy i realised how little i had learned on my own and that there is no substitute for a good teacher !!