As reported in our July issue, the UK’s last piano factory Kemble & Co, based at Bletchley near Milton Keynes, is to close its doors for the final time at the end of this month, with the loss of 90 jobs. The closure is because Kemble’s main shareholder Yamaha is moving production to the Far East.
In today's edition of Radio 4's You and Yours, reporter Patrick Bartlett goes behind the scenes at the factory before it closes.
Brian Kemble, the current managing director of Kemble & Co, whose grandfather started piano production in 1911 says: ‘It is a very sad time. We are now the last of the British piano makers. For the nature of the market where there is a need for sheer volume we are just not big enough.’
To see an audio slideshow of highlights from the You and Yours programme click here.
You and Yours is broadcast on Radio 4 today at 12.00 and will be available for 7 days on the BBC iPlayer. Click here to listen.
