The instrument maker, who began as an engineer in the 1950s, became best known for his cellos
The British luthier Colin Irving died on 23 March 2025 at the age of 80. Based near Bath, he made and restored violins, violas and cellos during his career, although he became best known for his cellos, of which he made more than a hundred.
His cellos were played by, among others, Laura van der Heijden, Raphael Wallfisch, Natalie Clein, Stjepan Hauser, Matthew Barley, Leonid Gorokhov and Peter Gregson.
Born in 1945, Irving began life as an engineer, being involved in the design and construction of hovercrafts in the early 1960s. In 1966 he joined the Dolmetsch instrument workshop in Guildford, making instruments there for four years before he left in 1970 for London.
He worked with Gil Solomon, a restorer who had trained in Cremona, before setting up his own workshop. A cello he made for the young Raphael Wallfisch brought interest from other professional cellists. Several musicians owned more than one Irving instrument, which were valued for their tone quality and projection.
In the 1990s Irving ran a workshop in Bristol at the invitation of Hamilton Caswell. He later set up another workshop of his own near Bath. As well as instrument making, he enjoyed sailing and yoga, and was an active member of a druid group.
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