I'm sad to have to inform MMD friends that Reg Richings, the
well-known pianola-restorer in London, passed away on 4th July
at the age of 91.

Reg was born on 21 April 1923, and obtained his first pianola
in about 1929 -- the start of a life-long enthusiasm.

During WW2 Reg worked as a lens-maker, based in a factory in Ealing
(west London) where he was born and brought up.  This led to him
doing optical work at the National Physical Laboratory in the 1950s.
The precision and technique learned then was later applied to his
restoration activities.

Reg's interests were always driven by traditions.  He was a great
enthusiast for English Country Dancing, music from Rameau to Beethoven,
and then skipping to Ragtime and Ernesto Nazareth (but he regarded
even Elgar as dangerously modern).

He had a passion for late-19th century technology in many guises and
his house over the shop was fitted out that way -- gas lights, oil
lamps (but not electric ones unless carefully hidden from view), a
working Seltzogene that provided soda water for his parties, a kitchen
with a wonderful old stove -- you name it, as well as the musical
items.  Everything worked, and was used.  The whole house was of a
piece, as was his very traditional sign-written shop front where he
traded as R E Store.

I'm not entirely sure when Reg moved into full-time restoration, but
it was probably the 1960s, and his shop dates back about 40 years.
At that time there were many ex-employees of the Aeolian Company
locally (the factory in Hayes was just a few miles west of Ealing)
who passed on a lot of their knowledge.  Reg's passing finishes a
direct link with those original years of our hobby.

Reg was a stalwart in the early years of the Player Piano Group, and
continued to provide a centre for folks to meet with his renowned roll
parties that were held twice-yearly.  Newcomers were always welcomed,
Reg was firmly against cliques.

We'd all head straight down the cellar where we could pick rolls from
his shelves, or in the workshop cleared for the occasion for folks to
bring along their surplus stock.  It was one of the prime ways for
newcomers to build up their collection, and their connections in the
hobby; many great friendships have sprung from those days.  Afterwards
there'd be great food, particularly the samosas made by the mother of
one of his helpers.

Despite numerous medical issues that might have stopped anybody else,
Reg was working right up to the point when he was admitted to hospital
in March.  He even undertook his first Ampico B last summer!

Reg was a principled man with firm views, and not against sharing them.
In strict accordance with his wishes there is to be no funeral, nor is
there to be any memorial service although some musical event will be
organised by his friends.  He donated his body to St George's University
of London for the purposes of scientific research.

I see that I've quite omitted the Rottweilers.  There were always two,
rescued via the Rottweiler Society of which Reg was a patron.  They may
have scared the bejabers out of some visitors, but they adored Reg.

Julian Dyer