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Honorary Fellow: Association For Scottish Literary Studies

“If we investigate only by physical and chemical means, we can only get physical and chemical answers.”

Sir Alister Hardy, FRS

Another documentary, made by Sidartha Films for Channel Four’s The Years Ahead series, once again featured Leonard Freidman, this time on John’s most recently-completed violin; but the instrument was set-up too hurriedly, with strings to Leonard’s preference, and didn’t respond at its best. Though he had found the 1977 violin more immediately “playable”, Leonard  expressed a preference for the new one.

“Definitely the most interesting from the sound point of view .. one of the better modern instruments”

This was the violin made out of an ammunition box that had attracted criticism in London for its “suspect” construction.

About this same time a documentary was made by Tyne-Tees Television on Luthery and John Brown’s work.