b'For a long time, I had kept quite a barrier betweenbeen an excuse to call a guitar Apothecary. What guitars and myself but some new things did occurguitar do you play? Oh, I play a Fylde Apothecary. to me, and slowly I began to take a fresh look. ItThats not a good example is it?was a little odd having a business called FyldeA magician is mentioned several times in such a long way from its origins, but I really did notShakespeare, it is a strong name and ticked all want to change the name after all that time.the boxes. I had become used to exploring all the Once I was established in Penrith, I began to workimplications of a new name and it didnt raise any on more new ideas. I had made one Jumbo sizealarms, so I used if for a big guitar, a proper Jumbo guitar around 1973, which I remember was anwith a deep body and a cutaway to bring it up to early experiment with A frame bracing and is partdate. Inevitably it was too big for most people, of another story, and although its not my favouriteso I made another model, just 10% smaller and style, I did think I should have one in my range. again struggled for a name. I felt it had to relate to Choosing a name from my accumulated list raisedMagician in some way.Alchemist was perfect, a problem - there were very few main charactersbut its the title of a famous play by Ben Johnson, left that were suitable for what I had in mind.not Shakespeare, and that wouldnt be right. There were strong names that I hadnt used, such asHappily, although the Alchemist is not a character Hamlet or Romeo, but they had too many otherin Shakespeare, the word itself is used, as in you connections, and names like Caesar, Andronicus,are an alchemist, make gold of that in Timon of Cleopatra, and Shylock were clearly not suitable.Athens, so I felt justified in stealing it. Its a good Malvolio and Feste didnt bring anything extra withname for a versatile guitar that has broken even them either. more ground for me, and is another that has been photographed and measured up by other makers, By thinking around the subject rather than readingIll take it as a compliment.through a list, I began to see that I could use namesBoth these new models were made from English that were not actual characters, but were simplyWalnut. The main reason for this was to avoid mentioned in the plays. Something along the lineshandling rosewood, which was now a big health of get thee to an apothecary - that would have Vin GarbuttOne of our national treasures, desperately missed , Vin was particularly well loved by the few that can understand what he says. If you are a southerner, you had little chance, in fact he would sometimes apologise to those who are wondering what everybody else is laughing at. He iwas known mostly for his songs and humour, butalso an amazing player of Irish tunes on the guitar. I recorded two guitar tunes for the Fylde Album, and Ive tried to play them myself many times. The only comparison I have is the flat-picking style of Big Bill Broonzy, entirely down strokes, played hard but fast Peter Howarth Here!, Im Here! While I was in New York, I saw that he was I didnt know that Peter had the guitarplaying at the Eagle Tavern; I went along and Peter lived in Blackpool as a teenager,until about four years ago. Moira and Isat in the front row. He looked up, saw me, said and used to visit me in the workshop atwere in our local cafe for lunch, whenHi Rog, and carried on for a few minutes until Kirkham. Neither of us could have knownsomebody leaned over and said theyit clicked.what the future was to be. I think hehad seen the Hollies on TV the day bought his Oberon 1980, and he is stillbefore with one of your guitars. I didntI had my first ever curry with Vin, he has cooked playing it over 30 years later. He regularlybelieve him until I found the TV clip. Peterhis own recipes when he has stayed here and sings with Cliff Richard, and eventuallyis a wonderful singer, and he is just asIm still alive. He has helped out at several got the Golden Gig, lead singer of thepleased to be on my artist list as I am tomusical birthday parties. It would have been Hollies, taking over from Carl Wayne.have him on it. I really do think he couldmore, but for one of them he didnt check his Moira and I saw them live a few yearsafford a new guitar by now. diary and came on the wrong day. ago when Peter decided to announce The man who made this guitar, Roger Bucknall, is in the audience tonight. In a small folk club I might have grinned, but this was a major event. When that sort of thing happens I try to become invisible, but secretly, inside, Im shouting Here! 78'