About Gavin Atkins Piano Tuning

After leaving Henshaw’s School for the Blind in Manchester in 1970, I attended the Royal National College for the Blind (which was then situated near Shrewsbury), where I learned the Piano Technician's profession.

I began my career in 1971 as a freelance Piano Tuner & Technician and initially worked with Williams Music Shop in Darlington until 1977.  As I was self-employed, I also began to build up my client base – gaining private clients and acquiring contracts for tuning school pianos in the local area. As my reputation grew, clients recommended me to family and friends and I began to travel further afield.  I began to tune, service and repair pianos beyond my home town of Darlington, travelling to Durham City, Richmond, Barnard Castle, Catterick, Bishop Auckland and each of their surrounding areas.  I now travel as far north as Newcastle-upon-Tyne and as far south as Bedale with some private tunings taking me to Saltburn-by-the-Sea to the East and to Middleton-in-Teesdale to the West. With the aid of my Guide Dog as well as the help of my government-funded support worker-drivers (for out-of-town work) - I am able to cover the majority of the North East.

I am very proud of the reputation I have built up and equally proud to still regularly visit clients whose pianos I have been tuning for 30 or 40 years.  I have always aimed to provide a professional, friendly and value-for-money service to my clients. I am also proud to have tuned and repaired pianos at Durham Cathedral and the Choristers School in Durham on a consistent basis for 46 years.  My Guide Dog is always a great attraction for the tourists at Durham Cathedral! I also tune for a number of venues, including Richmondshire Subscription Concerts, Bowes Museum, Darlington Hippodrome, Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Headlam Hall, Barnard Castle School, Aysgarth Preparatory School and Durham University Choral Society. But - of course - the greater part of my working life is visiting private homes where I tune, repair and service pianos of every make and model.

I am indebted to the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association who have trained me with 7 dogs over my career.  Each of my dogs has been a wonderful companion and a huge help to me in travelling confidently and with independence, thereby allowing me to build up my piano tuning business. Last but by no means least, I am also indebted to my PA – Philip -who organises my workload and my day-to-day work diary.  He does all of my administration and accounts' work and is the person you will speak to when telephoning or emailing to ask about having your piano tuned or repaired.