EndangErEd craft

Flute making is on the Heritage Crafts Association’s Red List of Endangered Crafts, and Stephen Wessel is believed to be the last craftsperson making handmade modern flutes in the UK. There are a couple of British makers specialising in wooden Baroque or simple flutes, which require less keywork, but Stephen is the only person making fully handmade, metal Boehm flutes.

After 35 years, Stephen is now retiring from making flutes full-time, although he will continue repairing and servicing them. It was a hard decision for him to make. “I got huge enjoyment from making flutes. I loved being able to do it, and now I have stopped, I am already missing it,” he says.

The association is determined that Stephen’s unique skill set is not lost for posterity and has joined forces with him and the flute retailer Jonathan Myall to save the craft of handmade British flute making by seeking potential trainees. The plan is that Stephen will teach the trainee, who will be supported and hosted by Jonathan.

“I will stay on in a training capacity, and we will try to keep the handmade concept and the Britishness alive, even though it will be necessary to make use of up-to-date digital processes to make many of the parts,” says Stephen.

So far, 23 applicants have expressed an interest in the position, so there is hope that this important craft will be kept alive by a new generation of flute makers.

More information about the flute making traineeship is available from Mary Lewis at the Heritage Crafts Association; email mary@heritagecrafts.org.uk