Maurice K. Bouette

John Dilworth

BOUETTE, Maurice K. Born 1922 London, died 1992 Newark, Nottinghamshire UK. Pupil of William Luff in Ealing, west London. Succeeded Luff as tutor at the Ealing and Northwood violin making classes 1962. Established a shop in Hanwell 1964, making and repairing instruments, and moving to Northwood by 1967. His greatest contribution to the craft of violin making was his initiative in founding the Newark School of Violin Making in 1972. With the help of Wilfred Saunders and Glen Collins, this became one of the world’s premier schools of lutherie, and continues to enjoy a very high reputation, with past students winning prizes internationally and rising to the peak of their profession worldwide. He retired as Director of the school in 1982, continuing to run his wood dealership. A modest and patient man, his devotion to his students and his vocation as a teacher left little time for making new instruments. His first was a viola for his wife Mary. He later made a viola for Lionel Tertis, a quartet in 1965, and a viola d’amore for Montague Cleeve in 1972. His son, Martin, trained at the Mittenwald School, and subsequently devoted his career to J. & A. Beare of London, for whom he is a leading maker and restorer.