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United Kingdom - The Trinidad and Tobago High Commissioner to London, H.E. Garvin Nicholas hosted the UK Pan Tuners Guild’s Master Tuner presentation on Friday 31^st January 2014 at the High Commission HQ at Belgravia Square, London. The very wet and windy English weather on the evening did not deter the audience that included UK Pan legends Russell Henderson MBE and Gerald Forsyth OBE as well as the High Commissioner of Jamaica amongst other distinguished guests.

The Trinidad and Tobago Tourism Attaché, Achi-Kemba Phillips, acted as MC on the evening. The Chair of the UK Pan Tuners Guild, Robbie Joseph thanked Mr. Nicholas and his staff for their help and support in making the event a reality. He spoke about the creation, aims and accomplishments of the Guild. He closed his speech with a quote from Ludwig Van Beethoven,  ‘ Music is the mediator between the spiritual and sensual life. Although the spirit be not master of that which it creates through music, yet it is blessed in this creation, which, like every creation of art, is mightier than the artist.’

The High Commissioner, Garvin Nicholas, then delivered a very informative, impressive and captivating speech about the steelpan instrument, its history, achievements and future in global music and Trinidad and Tobago’s continued efforts in promoting their national instrument to the rest of the world.

2014 marks the 7^th Anniversary of the creation of the UK Pan Tuners Guild. Steelpan craftsmen in the UK who wish to support the development of their craft and industry formed the Guild on The 4th November 2007. This not for profit organisation was created by Guild members who wished to work together as a benevolent society supporting themselves and their families through the practice of their craft.

Some of the Guild’s aims include creating a centre for tuning services and technical advice, providing specialist education, training and accreditation, developing a benevolent society for Guild members, creating a forum to develop and share research including future technical developments and improving health and safety guidance in the steelpan manufacturing field.

The Guild’s current members continue to spread their professional services globally offering steelbands and individuals the benefit of their highly honed skills, ensuring that they actively contribute to the growth and expansion of the steelpan culture, capturing audiences and encouraging the birth of steelbands in different parts of the world that are still virgin to this artform.   

Some of the other creations and achievements of this talented group of craftmen include the Octopan, Aubrapan Folding Stand, Collapsible Stage, Initiation of the Brixton Carnival to being the first person to introduce the steelpan instrument to the UK National School Curriculum and by 1978 having over 160 schools in the London teaching the artform to students are certainly notable accomplishments.

H.E Garvin Nicholas presented seven founder members of the Guild with their Master Tuner Certificates: -
Aubrey Bryan
Tony Charles
Toussaint Clarke
Dudley Dickson
Gerald Forsyth
Frank Rollock
Grafton Yearwood

A special Steelpan Fruit Bowl cum Coffee Table created by the innovative Dudley Dickson was presented to H.E. Garvin Nicholas on the night as a token of the UK Pan Tuners Guild’s appreciation for his continued support.

London All Stars Steelband supplied the live music on the night and had members of the Guild as well as distinguished members of the steelband community joining them to deliver some memorable music that left everyone’s musical thirst quenched but still wanting more. 

Executive officers of the Guild are:

Chairman - Robbie Joseph
Vice –Chair - Toussaint Clarke
Secretary – Cordelia ‘Dene’ Johnney
Treasurer – Aubrey Bryan

All pictures by Robbie Joseph

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