In 1973 the British Home Office regulations concerning student visas excluded holders of that status from working in the UK. However, the rules did not extend to the spouses of students. Within this regulation, my wife (at the time), with her secretarial skills, became the assistant to Philip Shirtcliff at the London College of Furniture.
Also, in the autumn of 1973, the ethnomusicologist Jean Jenkins began lectures at the school. Jean became familiar with my wife and was also in need of some secretarial assistance. She had entered into negotiations with Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, for an opportunity to study music in the country, which required his permission. This correspondence proved long and arduous, and Jean wanted a typist at her call. She proposed a swap: on-call secretarial work for free rent in her country house. And that was how I came to live in a 16th C. house called The White Cottage, Near Saffron Waldon.
Jean proved difficult and demanding, and evenings working with her ended in tears. Even though her professional charm was apparent, anger always lay coiled and ready to strike. In between the tongue lashings, we heard stories of how she was given a herd of camels in the Middle East and sang her traditional American songs for twenty-four hours during a week-long celebration. She was always in control and command.
As my time in school ended in 1974, I heard of an African university that needed a musical instrument technician. Young and naturally enthusiastic about foreign things, this seemed an excellent opportunity to study indigenous lutherie, and I planned to apply for the job.
I felt confident about the plan since I know one of the great ethnomusicologists who could give me a reference. When I asked Jean for the favor, in typical Jean fashion, she looked down her glasses at me and said, "I could give you a reference, and you would get the job. However, I am not going to do that. You chose to make violins, and that is what you should do." And that ended my dream of developing the field of ethnolutherie.