Introduced by local constituency MP Alec Shelbrooke, the Prime Minister spoke on the topics of the day to local supporters, guests and JHS staff, then toured the JHS facility, showing great interest in the company's story, which was started in 1965, from humble beginnings in the home of the eponymous John Hornby Skewes and his wife Madge.
The company now offers a portfolio of over 4500 products, which are sold to over 2000 customers throughout the UK and Eire, contributes to the local economy with employment, and to the wider UK economy with its exports to over 85 overseas markets including the USA, Canada, Australasia, the countries of the European Union, and places as diverse as St Helena and The Falkland Islands.
John Hornby Skewes & Company & Co Ltd, is a family-owned international distribution company specialising in the design, manufacture and distribution of a wide range of musical products including Vintage and Fret-King guitars and fretted instruments, amplification and effects, Odyssey brass and woodwind instruments, Antoni orchestral stringed instruments, sound reinforcement products and general accessories for the musical products market.
The company also acts as the UK/Eire distributor for internationally acclaimed music products such as Hughes and Kettner guitar amps, HK Audio PA products, Fishman acoustic amplification, Danelectro guitars, Supro amps, BG brasswind accessories and a host of accessory brands.
JHS MD Dennis Drumm observed: "Making and playing musical instruments is all about passion and a determination to get it right for all the right reasons, so it seems is politics. It was great to meet the PM, who spoke eloquently about his determination to do the right thing for the country with an authority, humility and commitment which I don't hear from many politicians."
(Jim Evans)