Stephen Shears, a piano tuner based in Somerset, has passed away at age 70. Throughout his career, he established a reputation across the United Kingdom for his specialized ability to tune pianos by ear, a traditional skill that is gradually being displaced by modern technological methods. His work took him across the country to diverse locations, from mobile setups to historic estates such as Stourhead House in Wiltshire, and he undertook extensive travel commitments to meet client demands.
Shears was born in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, to Cecelia Denton, a school secretary, and Trevor Shears, a draughtsman. The family relocated to Crewkerne, Somerset, during his childhood, where he developed his musical interests through choir participation and instrumental study in cello and piano. He attended Maiden Beech and Wadham secondary schools before pursuing formal training at Newark College in Nottinghamshire, completing a course in piano tuning and restoration that launched his professional career.
In Bath, Shears operated a workshop alongside colleagues Roger Forsey, a carpenter, and Philip Ireland, a french polisher. Together they undertook restoration projects on severely damaged instruments, including pianos affected by flooding. Shears also worked on instruments for personal use and rental purposes, including a grand piano that was featured in a music video. He was instrumental in teaching the trade to his own father, with whom he later collaborated professionally.
Beyond technical work, Shears was active in regional folk music circles across Devon, Somerset, and Gloucestershire as a keyboardist and bass player. He founded the band Jigs for Gigs in the 1970s, maintaining performances with largely consistent membership for decades. He also performed as a duo with his sister Alison. Shears is survived by his wife Kellie Simpson, a music teacher whom he married in 2000, two adult children from a previous marriage to Julia Pitchford, a stepdaughter, six grandchildren, and two siblings.
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