John Weston Thomas

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John Weston Thomas (born 1921 Cardiff, died Pembrokeshire 1992) revived the tradition of Welsh harp making. After spells in the merchant navy, and teaching carpentry, he began making harps, originally with the aid of old instruments and illustrations, as there was no existing harp maker to teach him. He worked tirelessly until shortly before his death, and his three students Alun Thomas (his son), Bryan Blackmore (in Pembrokeshire) and Allan Shiers (in Llandysul) are all successfully working as harp makers, having continued developing what he began.