Bill Hedworth facts for kids
William Hedley Hedworth (born August 14, 1901 – died December 18, 1994) was a very important person in the world of Northumbrian smallpipes. These are a special type of bagpipes from northern England. For many years, from about 1950 to the mid-1960s, he was almost the only person making new sets of these pipes. He kept making them even when he was very old. This was super important because it meant new players could still get instruments. At that time, fewer people were playing or making these pipes, so Bill Hedworth helped keep the tradition alive.
About Bill Hedworth
Bill Hedworth was born into a family that built racing boats on the River Tyne. But he learned a different skill: he became a pattern maker. When he was young, he loved music and played the piano and then the violin.
Because jobs could be uncertain, Bill decided to learn even more skills. He became a teacher in both woodworking and metalworking. In 1946, he even became a registered silversmith, which means he was officially recognized for his skill in working with silver.
All these different skills meant Bill could make many things. He made musical instruments, church silver, furniture, and even coffins! For 15 years, he taught silversmithing in Newcastle.
How He Started Making Pipes
Bill first heard Northumbrian pipes played by a musician named Tom Clough. This was at a competition. But it wasn't until the late 1940s that Bill decided to try making a set himself.
One of his metalwork students, Alan Hall, happened to be the secretary of the Northumbrian Pipers' Society (NPS). Alan let Bill measure his own set of pipes. This helped Bill understand how they were put together.
Making the reeds for the pipes was tricky, which is a common problem for pipemakers. So, Bill contacted Jack Armstrong, another famous piper, for help. They became good friends. Jack would often send people to Bill if they needed pipes or repairs. Later, Bill even taught silversmithing to Colin Ross (pipemaker), who also became a well-known pipemaker.
Bill's Unique Pipe Designs
Bill was very careful and kept detailed notes. He recorded the sizes and other important details of all the pipes that people brought to him for repair. He used this information to create his own designs. He even developed standard measurements for the holes on the pipes, which helped make them sound better. Some of the very first pipes that could play in "concert pitch" (a standard musical tuning) were made by him.
Over time, Bill Hedworth's pipes became very easy to recognize. They had elegant keys and beautiful metalwork made from nickel silver. Even though he made amazing pipes, Bill admitted he wasn't a piper himself. He found it hard to tune and set up the pipes perfectly. Often, other pipemakers would help fine-tune them so their excellent sound could truly shine.
Bill used different types of wood for his pipes. He especially liked African blackwood and lignum vitae. He also used ivory when he could get it at a good price. Many piping competitions in the 1970s and 1980s were won by musicians playing Bill Hedworth's pipes. In total, he made about 360 sets of these special instruments!
His Later Years
Towards the end of his long life, Bill made fewer pipes. This was partly because nickel silver, his favorite metal, became very hard to find. But he never stopped doing craft work until he passed away. Even when his hands shook, he kept working with his sharp tools, which sometimes worried his friends! He also thought his work was worth less money than it actually was, which was lucky for some of his customers.
Bill Hedworth was very proud to be made an Honorary Member of the Northumbrian Pipers' Society in 1972. The Society remembers him as a creative and clever designer of Northumbrian pipes. In 2014, a book about his amazing work was published by the Northumbrian Pipers' Society.
