Master craftsman Simon Watkin made his first violin at just 15. Now his skill attracts clients from all over the region. Paul Clarke met him

Simon Watkin makes violins; he repairs violins – and he fine-tunes them – like a racing car: full size, small size, all sizes – violas, cellos – even double basses. On the day I visit, his workshop is dominated by a beautiful gleaming example that he’d just finished repairing that afternoon.
“The young man had a slight tumble, and it had been broken into four or five parts, with 20 or 30 cracks in it…” I admire the instrument, struggling to see any sign of damage. “The hardest thing was taking the front off…” says Simon. “I don’t do double basses very often…!” Prior to that, there was a lady’s violin to be collected earlier in the day: “Only finished about 20 minutes after she arrived!” he jokes.
I imagine, providing the very special service that he does, customers must come from far and wide, tell their friends – and presumably return for repeat business? “The better you specialise, the better that reputation is,” he acknowledges. “Nobody does exactly what I do. I specialise in the bridge setting up.” He explains: “A lot of people play instruments, but often their instrument isn’t in very good voice. My speciality is getting it absolutely tip-top….”

I remark that on his website, he offers to supply, not only top quality instruments for experienced musicians, but also what might be classed as ‘student level’ instruments – individually worked over, and given the Simon Watkins treatment. But that’s his business: “I don’t like seeing people learning on poor quality, badly setup instruments – it’s not necessary…” He understands the dangers of new players being put off playing by starting on poor instruments – and how he is providing something that will hopefully encourage them to persevere. “Perhaps in five or ten year’s time they’ll want to come back and buy a better one.”

Home-based business
Simon’s workshop and home is an attractive old-fashioned green-painted shop on the corner of Coates Village Green, next to The Carpenter’s Arms pub. “It was empty when we bought it,” he says. “But it had been a post office for 80 or 90 years - and before that it was a butcher.” He gestures up at the rails once used for hanging meat, now so useful for his instruments. But he’s careful where he places them: “People used to walk into them!” he says.

I ask him why Coates – going eastwards from Peterborough, on a narrow speed camera-dotted road, beyond Whittlesey? “Coates has a nice atmosphere,” he says. “And while you could say it’s in the middle of nowhere, it’s actually in between everywhere – people will travel half an hour, 45 minutes to see me – from Kings Lynn, Stamford, St Neots…”
I ask him how it all began? Was he a violinist who turned to making them?

“The other way round,” he says. “I started making before I started playing – when I was about 12. I set out to make a violin. My first proper violin was finished when I was about 15, then it progressed to four or five a year.” I ask him if he’d kept or sold them?

“The wood is quite expensive, so I’d have to sell one to buy some more wood to make another and so on…” He subsequently studied at the Newark School of Violin Making – and based himself initially at Peterborough Arts Centre, before finding his present base. “The business has been established for 24 years,” he says. “And I’ve been making them now for 35 years…” Clearly a labour of love then?” He agrees: “It’s a pity it has to be for money as well”
Simon Watkin is a man who found something he wanted to do at a very young age, and had the determination and good fortune to make it his life. And he exudes a certain contentment at earning a living doing what he loves. He sees no prospect of ever stopping. “Why retire?” he says. “Only if I can’t do it anymore!”

• Simon Watkin Violins, 2 North Green, Coates, Peterborough, PE27 2BQ
Tel: 01733 840235
e-mail: simon@watkin-violins.co.uk
website: www.watkin-violins.co.uk