COOPER, GILL & TOMKINS
PIPE ORGAN BUILDERS
First Established 1902
OUR TEAM
The Passion Behind the Business
CHARLES HART
Managing Director
Charles was the first South African organ apprentice to serve a 5-year Apprenticeship which was registered by the Department of Manpower. He studied Tuning & Regulation under James Riadore; Tuning & Voicing under Richard Moth; Electrical Work under Sam Forster and Carpentry under Roy Brown. He became a partner with James Riadore and, after having been in charge of the Johannesburg Branch for 12 years, moved to Cape Town in 2012 and took on the role of Managing Director. The firm is now responsible for over a hundred organs in the Gauteng, Free State and KZN regions as well as the Western and Northern Cape
ALEC LONGMAN
Technical Director
Born in the UK, Alec Longman was apprenticed to the famous organ building firm of Hill, Norman & Beard from 1976-1981. After his apprenticeship he continued with that firm until 1984 when he emigrated to South Africa to join Cooper, Gill & Tomkins. From 1990 he did work for Tozer Organ Builders; Byrne Organs and South African Organ Builders before returning to Cooper, Gill & Tomkins as Technical Director. Alec currently looks after instruments in the northern parts of South Africa.
HAROLD LEMMETJIES
Director
Harold started at Cooper Gill & Tomkins in 1982. With decades of experience, Harold still finds the work rewarding and especially enjoys the practical side of the business. Harold is the go-to man for any leather repairs on bellows and other pneumatic working parts.
PAST DIRECTORS
William Charles Cooper
Harold Gill
Alfred Maberley Fellows Tomkins
Harry Williams
Albert Victor Allen
Alex Smith
William Tozer
A.B. Hill
James Riadore
Roy Brown
Richard Moth
Charles February
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