Terry Colley Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 On facebook this morning Dear friends, It is with profound sadness that we must share the news of Neil's passing today, Wednesday 5th October. Neil suffered from a ruptured aneurysm on Monday and had been in hospital on life support since then. He left us today peacefully, surrounded by his family. Thank you very much for the support and messages at this difficult time. Maria, Kirstie and Mairi Értz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mysticpaw Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 A fine maker and musician... sadly taken far too early.... my condolences and prayers are with all the family Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nathan slobodkin Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 I did not know him but he had a fine reputation. My condolences to all of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANFIO Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 A great loss indeed. Neil was such a generous guy, always willing to share his vast knowledge. His posts here were always very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Hannafin Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 Neil was incredibly nice, he invited me to his shop after I joined this forum. I loved talking to him and seeing his shop and work. Very generous and kind man. It feels so unreal that he's gone now. We were going to have pints next month at the Scots fiddle fest...he even joked about a scroll carving race during the fest. I remember him sitting next to me while I measured his plaster copy of an Amati scroll...and he kept popping into the other room to fetch more books with beautiful pictures to show. He'd always make tea too. I just can't believe he's gone. My heart goes out to his friends and family. He is sorely missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urban Luthier Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 I'm completely shocked I can barely even type. My heart-felt condolences to Neil's family. I never met Neil in person, but we corresponded regularly about a shared love of fine tools an violin making. Neil was tremendously generous with his time helping me understand the basics of varnish making (something that became invaluable as I worked on a research project published a couple of years back). From the warm sentiment here and on Facebook from his customers and friends, Neil leaves a beautifully family, and customers who loved his work. Neil you've inspired a generation of violin makers through your generosity, inspiration and kindness. You will be missed. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael_Molnar Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 I am truly sorry to hear of his passing. Neil was very open with us about his work and findings, My deepest sympathies to his family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James M. Jones Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 a real shock to hear the sad news , I always enjoyed his presence here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael_Molnar Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 The Strad obituary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Carlson Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 On facebook this morning Dear friends, It is with profound sadness that we must share the news of Neil's passing today, Wednesday 5th October. Neil suffered from a ruptured aneurysm on Monday and had been in hospital on life support since then. He left us today peacefully, surrounded by his family. Thank you very much for the support and messages at this difficult time. Maria, Kirstie and Mairi Értz. I don't use facebook but hopefully the family will read what is posted here by the other MN members. I first met Neil in Glasgow when I was there with Paganini's Cannon in March of 2006. A group of talented makers, including Neil, had set up shop at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and were making a copy of the "Maurin" Stradivari of 1718 to donate to the RSAMD that had it on loan from the Royal Academy of Music. Some of the makers had their own work on display and I was particularly impressed by a copy of the "Lord Wilton" Guarneri 'del Gesù' that Neil had made. He was very modest about it but it was a truly fine instrument to say the least. We did have an occasional e-mail exchange after Glasgow but unfortunately I was never to see him again. I will always remember with fondness that one special moment. Most sincere condolences to his family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rue Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 My condolences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_Coggins Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 We are in shock at this news. Adele went through Newark with Neil and they remained very good friends and stayed in touch - as often as you can when you live on opposite sides of the world. We visited Neil in Germany when he was working with Roger, and saw him last in Cambridge, before his move to Edinburgh.Neil was our 'Google' for violin making. Well, better than Google really, because he'd already filtered out all the junk and just gave you the good stuff. I'd send him a question via email - just a few sentences - and get several pages back in reply. Adele would phone him to ask about something and it would end up a one-hour Skype session (with lots of gossip about family and friends mixed in among the violin making). Neil was incredibly knowledgeable about violin making, and incredibly generous with his knowledge. And you always got the impression there was no "secret stuff". He was more than happy to share everything he knew... even with his varnishing. He was a huge help to us in developing our own approach to varnish.You'd think with his experience and expertise that he could have got a little full of himself. A large part of violin making success for many people seems to come from blowing their own trumpet. Not Neil... he was the most unassuming, modest and gentle maker that I have ever come across. I'll remember him as a lovely, generous man who was passionate about violin making and always wanted to learn more about it, and share what he had found. His other great passion was his family - it must be a devastating time for them and we send our condolences. We certainly share in some small way their pain and grief.Oh Neil. Too young. Way too young. We're going to miss you mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will L Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 Neil's passing is heartbreaking. Since I spent the day shaking my head uncontrollably and mumbling to myself I imagine many others around the world were doing the same. Words can't provide enough solace to his family, but I hope they know how much Neil meant to so many of us and that they do not grieve alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Burgess Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Neil, kind of a shock, but thanks for all that you contributed while you were with us in this "worldly"stage of our larger journey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davide Sora Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 I met Neil in 2013 during the work of the jury for a violinmaking competition here in Italy. I much appreciated his honesty and competence working side by side on the jury, and we had made plans to meet up one day in his Scotland. Now we just have to dismay for a so premature departure, a great loss for the world of violin making. My sincere condolences to his family and to all his friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGerald StephenR Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 My condolences to his family, friends and colleagues who clearly admired and respected him for his character and craft. Rest in Peace Neil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janito Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 I first met Neil in Cambridge and we talked tools, wood and casts; he did not have one of his instruments there. He taught me many things for which I am most grateful. I will not forget Neil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Carlson Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Yesterday was the study day for the 1716 Stradivari violin 'le Messie' from the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. One of the first lectures was John Dilworth speaking together with Carlo Chiesa about the authenticity of the violin and the Stradivari family active in the shop. John paused and took time to remember Neil and to remind all of us there what a fine person and violinmaker he was. Well said John. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_Coggins Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 John paused and took time to remember Neil and to remind all of us there what a fine person and violinmaker he was. Well said John. Bruce Thanks for the update Bruce - we would like to have heard John's tribute. Neil was indeed a fine person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Carlson Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Thanks for the update Bruce - we would like to have heard John's tribute. Neil was indeed a fine person. The Museo del Violino will be publishing the talks of last Sunday but I couldn't tell you if it will be verbatim and therefore include John's breif tribute or if the speeches were pre-consigned to the translator for the publication. We'll have to wait and see. Bruce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnCockburn Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Yesterday was the study day for the 1716 Stradivari violin 'le Messie' from the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. One of the first lectures was John Dilworth speaking together with Carlo Chiesa about the authenticity of the violin and the Stradivari family active in the shop. John paused and took time to remember Neil and to remind all of us there what a fine person and violinmaker he was. Well said John. Bruce What a lovely, thoughtful, thing to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~ Ben Conover Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Neil was the first maker to have visited my workshop here, I bought his Hegner scroll saw this summer past, and I learned much from meeting him at the makers festival here. He was a hard working kind considerate charming and witty man, who happened to make superb instruments.What other maker who was a judge at international competitions and taught so well could be so modest. He was one of a kind and I'm very sad that he left us so young. He left behind a good home and fine family, as Neil said so often : 'be well'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_Coggins Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 This message was recently posted on Neil's Facebook page by his family: Neil's family would very much like to thank you all for the kind and thoughtful words that help support us during such a difficult time. We would love for you to join us on Saturday 15th October 10:30 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Palmerston Place, Edinburgh EH12 5AW for a service of remembrance and celebration of his life. Thank you, it would be great if you could make it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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