Stephen Bicknell  (Oneskull@dircon.co.uk)
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Born in London in 1957, I was educated at Winchester College where
I learned organ with Alwyn Surplice, sang in the choir in the fine
14th century chapel, and dabbled in composition - trying to keep
pace with my contemporary the prodigious Francis Pott. I then went
to St. Chad's College in the University of Durham and took a
General Arts degree specializing in History, Philosophy and English
Literature.
 
I became an organ builder after leaving university in 1979 with
N.P.Mander Ltd. London. After training with them and working in the
drawing office I moved to J.W.Walker for three years, and then back
to N.P.Mander as head designer in 1990. Between 1990 and 1993 I was
responsible for the design of instruments such as St. Ignatius
Loyola New York City, St. John's College Chapel Cambridge United
Kingdom (UK), Chelmsford Cathedral UK (nave organ), Stavanger
Cathedral Norway (choir organ).
 
I left full-time employment in organ building in 1993 to pursue a
more relaxed career in free-lance design, writing, and computer
assisted design. 'The History of the English Organ' was published
by Cambridge University Press in 1996
 
I have been a member of BIOS (The British Institute of Organ
Studies - UK equivalent of the Organ Historical Society) since its
inception in 1976, and have been in turn membership secretary and
editor of the quarterly BIOS Reporter. I have contributed articles
on various subjects to the annual BIOS Journal and enjoy giving
papers on organ related topics.
 
Musical interests wide and varied; organ interests - all pedigree
pipe organs, historic, modern and theatre; other interests -
architecture, classic cars, drawing and more.
 
I live in Spitalfields in central London, just on the east side of
the City proper, in an area of fine 18th century houses. My ground
floor apartment is modest, but news of the 400 square foot garden
is occasionally reported to piporg-l.