To celebrate 60 years of representing the professional recording industry the APRS is holding a series of events throughout 2007.

07.

27-Sep-2007

The Roof Gardens
Kensington High Street
London W8 5SA

The 60th anniversary lunch.
And so it came to pass that on Thursday 27 September 2007 many of The Great and The Good of the UK recording industry gathered to celebrate no less an event than the 60th anniversary of the organisation which has represented it through both good times and bad.

This was just one of a number of events which the association has organised this year. Previously engineers producers and musicians had shared their anecdotes of the good times, mastering engineers bemoaned the current lack of dynamics in many of today's commercial releases and the marketing and media gurus had looked at the changing nature of the business and gazed meaningfully into their crystal balls and Rupert Neve had been inspired us.

But this month our event was about pure celebration. The venue was the excellent Roof Gardens restaurant in Kensington and it was immediately evident that thought and planning had gone into setting up the venue, with a discrete visual presentation projected onto screens either side of the lectern which would, in due course provide the stage for the afternoon's presentations.

We were welcomed by Exec. Director Peter Filleul and Chair David Hamilton-Smith before tucking into an excellent and well presented meal. This, however, was only an entrée ahead the true main course of the afternoon a speech by the APRS President Sir George Martin CBE culminating in the award of the very first APRS Sound Fellowships.

In his speech Sir George spoke fittingly not only of the past but also of the present and the future of the industry and had a presentation of his own to make to Chris Runciman with thanks for all the work Chris had done to help the Leisure Centre and Recording Studio project for the people of Montserrat. Chris received a signed lithograph of Sir George's scored arrangement of The Beatles' "Yesterday".

The APRS Sound Fellowship awards were created by the APRS in its 60th anniversary year to reward those who have made a very special contribution to any sector of the industry – engineers, producers, studio owners and musicians are all considered, whether members or non-members, at home here in the UK or abroad. The first three recipients were, unfortunately unable to be present to receive their awards. They were internationally renowned producer, Chris Blackwell, studio designer, technical engineer and authority on disc cutting lathes, Sean Davies and recording engineer and artist Alan Parsons.

APRS Chairman David Hamilton-Smith next proposed an award to engineer Keith Grant, musician Benny Gallagher proposed engineer and producer Glyn Johns and APRS director Chris Buchanan proposed this year's final award to former manager of Abbey road Studios Ken Townsend.

You can hear our exclusive recording of the afternoon's speeches, presentations and acceptances by using the audio player below. (Requires membership username and password).

We would like to thank our event sponsors Deep Recording Studios, DTS and also FX Group for their generosity in providing facilities.

Executive Director: Peter Filleul

Chairman: David Hamilton-Smith

Sir George Martin and Chris Runciman

Keith Grant and Sir George Martin

Keith Grant congratulates Glyn Johns

Ken Townsend receives his fellowship from Sir George

Photos by Gilead Limor and Wes Maebe

Use the audio player below to listen to our exclusive recording of the APRS Fellowship Awards presentations
Requires membership username and password