Rob Armstrong workshop fire

Subject: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: GUEST,Graham Bradshaw
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 12:16 PM

This merits a new thread.

Coventry guitar maker Rob Armstrong's workshop was burnt to ashes on Sunday. Rob is in hospital being treated for burns.

More info when I hear.

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 12:50 PM

How very sad... all his specialist tools gone.



news article

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 12:51 PM

damn... meant to say ... I hope his injuries are not too terrible and that he heals physically and emotionally.

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 12:54 PM

link fixed

(note that the article continues after the poll and to a second screen -- kind of annoying web layout.)

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: mandotim
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 02:03 PM

Graham, are you in touch? if so please pass on best wishes. He'll be back, he was hopelessly addicted to his craft years ago.
Tim

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: GUEST,Vic at home
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 02:44 PM

How terrible. I was speaking to him only last week.
Hope his injuries are not serious and that Shiela is O.K.

Vic.

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: Leadfingers
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 05:32 PM

And that he had GOOD insurance cover !!

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 06:46 PM

Oh my god. I cannot begin to think how he must be feeling. It is like the burning of a Picasso, or the destruction of the fire at Windsor castle.

Subject: Rob Armstrong Workshop fire
From: GUEST,Mad Spaniel
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 05:20 AM

Just heard the sad news that master guitar maker Ron Armstrong has been hospitilsed after a major fire at his workshop. He is ok but got burnt when he tried to save a couple of his guitars it sounds like most of the rest were lost.

We wish him a speedy recovery.

XX

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: GUEST,Mad spaniel
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 05:23 AM

Sorry didn't see this and posted another entry.
Best wishes to Rob

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: GUEST,Brenda
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 04:15 AM

So sorry to hear about this. Hope Rob is OK. Last time I went to his workshop it was at the front of his house if this was still the case hope the rest of the building not too badly damaged. I'm sure Sheila will rise to the occasion as she seems to me one strong lady. My best wishes go out to both of them and heres to a speedy recovery.

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: mandotim
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 08:46 AM

The workshop was a large shed at the bottom of the garden, so hopefully the rest of the house is ok. The front sitting room was used as a guitar showroom and motorcycle repair area.

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: GUEST,keith donnelly
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 03:11 PM

hey all - only just heard news - anything we friends and admirers can do to help?

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: Chris Green
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 04:10 PM

Ditto to what Keith said. If anyone's organising any sort of benefit gig or suchlike, please consider mine and Isambarde's services volunteered! Does anyone know how severe Rob's injuries are?

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 05:26 PM

Hi. I am Rob's sister, Susan. Rob is out of hospital. I have spoken to him tonight and he seems fairly ok. He has burns to his head and hands but he can move his fingers. I guess we won't know the damage until the dressings come off. The workshop is destroyed but his home is untouched. Obviously he is devastated at what he has lost, most of it irreplaceable , and can't think about the future until his wounds have healed, but he feels better for being at home. I told him I had picked up these threads and that you all sent good wishes to him. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: Girl Friday
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 07:03 PM

Good wishes from me too. We met once, at a Folk Festival, I spokle to him about some work he was doing for a mutual friend

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: SunrayFC
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 01:57 PM

How well I remember the New Modern Idiot Grunt Band days when I started in folk music, all those years ago.

This is a tough thing to recover from.

Best wishes from down here in Dorset.

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: GUEST,Cliff Lee
Date: 18 Jul 10 - 06:42 AM

Very sad to hear this, all the best to Rob for a speedy recovery.
Cliff.

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: GUEST,Kevin Hall, Timberline Guitars Canada
Date: 20 Jul 10 - 09:10 AM

I went through a similar ordeal 5 or 6 years ago when lightning hit and destroyed my shop during a tornado.   Took us 3 years to recover.   If someone can put me in touch with Rob, I will send him some sitka tops to help get him back in the game once his wounds heal.
KH

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: GUEST,Eric
Date: 20 Jul 10 - 01:33 PM

Great news that Rob is ok but I am so sad to hear about his workshop. I have Armstrong 576 and the experience of talking to him while he demonstrated his guitars before we sorted out what I wanted was one of the best memories I have. He is a real gent and a true craftsman. I hope he gets back on the bench soon.

Eric

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: GUEST,Nick Wroughton
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 08:15 AM

,poke to Rob-a very old friend-on Oct 9th.When I'd last spoken to Sheila we discussed the workshop but not why a new one was needed[she assumed I'd heard].He seemed positive and if a willing spirit rules the day over physical considerations I'm sure he'll be back doing what he loves.Despite entreaties he's not yet a pc man so if eg Susan could contact me at [e-mail] I'd love to send a jpeg picture of,perhaps,the fanciest gtr he's built from a gig of mine[2002]

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: SylviaN
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 10:36 AM

Only just seen this news - not been visiting Mudcat as regularly as I usually do as Keith has had his own health problems.

Our very best wishes for Rob's speedy physical recovery and all the best to both Rob and Shiela for their emotional and financial recovery.

We're with Keith D. and Chris. If there is anything we can do, let us know.

Sylvia & KK

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: GUEST,Graham Bradshaw
Date: 02 Nov 10 - 06:34 AM

Saw Rob on Sunday at the Dave Bennett Memorial Concert. He's looking well and in good spirits, and played a couple of songs with Sheila.

Told me he has a new workshop built and busy re-equipping. Should be starting to build the first guitar in a couple of weeks. Told me he "doesn't want to spend the rest of his life being an ex-guitar maker".

And then last night the following article appeared in the local paper Guitar maker fights back

Great to see he's not he's back in business with a vengeance.

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: mandotim
Date: 02 Nov 10 - 06:59 AM

Fantastic news! Before the fire he was really 'on a roll', with some truly stunning instruments coming out of the workshop. Thanks for sharing Graham.
Tim

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: SylviaN
Date: 02 Nov 10 - 07:17 AM

Great article and photo.

The link (and I've tried and I can't do any better) takes you to the Coventry News, not to the page with the article (it's just the way it works!). If you put "guitar" into the search (make sure you have "site" clicked and not "web" and then click on the search button, the first article on the list should be the one about Rob.

Cheers

Sylvia

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 02 Nov 10 - 08:59 PM

Guitar

This link works, direct to the article, for me in preview.

The only difference I see in it and the link above is an additional "/" at the end that may be dropped in another browser.

John

Subject: RE: Rob Armstrong workshop fire
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 03 Nov 10 - 03:54 AM

Fabulous! What I need now is an inheritance to spend!