Meet the Team
Victoria Thorogood (Master/Lead Flutemaker)
It was while working at Trevor James & Co in the 1990’s that Vicky first laid eyes on a Wessel flute that had been sent in for a routine service and even back in those early days this flute had always intrigued her.
Following her time at Trevor James & Co. Vicky divided her time between Just Flutes repair shop and Howarths of London – it was at Howarths where she learnt oboe and clarinet finishing under the tutelage of Peter Worrell and worked closely with Ian McLauchlan. Vicky was also passionate about playing and took the opportunity to study for a BA in music at Reading University and then a post-graduate performance course at the Royal Academy in London. Vicky then returned to Howarths making their professional model oboes for many years while continuing teaching, repairing and performing.
In the summer of 2019 Vicky was approached by Jonathan Myall the owner of “Just Flutes” at the time who was looking for an experienced instrument maker who had the passion, temperament and skills following Stephen’s retirement to continue producing and developing the Wessel Flutes. Over the following years working closely with Stephen Wessel her husband Jim developed and created the new generation of Wessel Flutes which has assured the future of flute making in the UK.
James Thorogood (Chief engineer)
Jim joined Howarth of London in 1993, initially in the Clarinet department, learning the fundamentals of woodwind manufacture under Peter Worrell. He moved to Oboe making a few years later learning all aspects of the production process from wood turning to cork padding. A keen interest in technology and new challenges let to a move into CAD design and CNC programming.
Jim has developed the use of these technologies for the production of Howarths Oboes; in particular the use of Swiss sliding head machines for component manufacture. In 2020 Jim began the process of converting Stephen Wessex’s drawings into 3D computer models. This would enable the use of this leading technology to produce the components which enabled his wife Vicky to build the next generation of Wessel Flutes.
Chris Raven (Case Maker)
A new start after 60. Chris spent his career in IT – rediscovering his childhood love of music and woodworking after his retirement. He says this proves that you can plant a seed in a child’s mind and it can stay with you for your entire life. He studied Baroque flute and recorder making with Robert Bigio and started to make flute cases which caught the eye of Jonathan Myall who approached him to design a box for the Wessel Flutes.
Following years of careful development Chris has created is a thing of beauty – each case is totally handmade in his Sussex workshop in Rye and has to be one of the most striking and tactile flute cases available. A true work of art.
Ian McLauchlan (Headjoint design and production)
Alexandra Stanley (Finishing, Padding lead technician)
Jonathan Myall (Owner, Sales and Marketing)
After graduating from the Royal College of Music Jonathan joined Charterhouse Instruments in London – one of the leading British retailers at the time. It was here that he learnt about flute manufacturing and met many of the leading orchestral players and the best and most influential flute makers at the time. Albert Cooper- Bickford Brannen – Dana Sheridan – Lillian Burkart to name but a few who were all a great inspiration.
In 1985 Jonathan joined with Ian McLauchlan and opened their first store and workshop in Walton on the Hill in Surrey and two years later took over Just Flutes which grew into one of Europes leading flute specialists attracting customers from all over the world which has continued to the present day. His personal flute is a Wessel which he has played for many years – so on hearing of Stephen Wessel’s retirement he was concerned that this unique instrument and flute making in general was coming to an end in the UK.
Discussions began in early 2019 to see if Stephen Wessel would be willing to sell his concept and designs and at the beginning of 2020 the ownership of Wessel Flutes passed to Jonathan who feels he is the custodian of this unique instrument and began the search for “The Team”.