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Beryl Ritchie obituary Beryl Ritchie obituary
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My friend Beryl Ritchie, who has died aged 71 after a short illness, began her career working in a record shop near her home town of Ardrossan, Ayrshire, and ended up as the disc cutter for such classics as Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells. In the 1970s she was one of only a handful of female cutting engineers in the record industry in the UK and worked on releases by the Rolling Stones and the Clash.My friend Beryl Ritchie, who has died aged 71 after a short illness, began her career working in a record shop near her home town of Ardrossan, Ayrshire, and ended up as the disc cutter for such classics as Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells. In the 1970s she was one of only a handful of female cutting engineers in the record industry in the UK and worked on releases by the Rolling Stones and the Clash.
One of six girls brought up in a two-bedroom tenement, Beryl was the tomboy of the family and loved helping her mechanic father tinker with cars. There wasn't much money but there was always music in the house. She left school at 15 and found work at a record shop in a neighbouring town. She wanted to join her sister in London but her father wouldn't let her before she got a job in the capital. She found one in a record shop in Bond Street, in the stockroom, then started work for Decca in south London – also in the stockroom.One of six girls brought up in a two-bedroom tenement, Beryl was the tomboy of the family and loved helping her mechanic father tinker with cars. There wasn't much money but there was always music in the house. She left school at 15 and found work at a record shop in a neighbouring town. She wanted to join her sister in London but her father wouldn't let her before she got a job in the capital. She found one in a record shop in Bond Street, in the stockroom, then started work for Decca in south London – also in the stockroom.
A visit to Decca's West Hampstead Studios, with its three recording studios and eight cutting rooms, gave her a glimpse of her future. She got a job there – in the backroom, but she was getting nearer her goal. One of the engineers was cutting the master of The Sound of Music and agreed to show her how it was done. The lathes were quite high so he had to make a little platform for her to stand on.A visit to Decca's West Hampstead Studios, with its three recording studios and eight cutting rooms, gave her a glimpse of her future. She got a job there – in the backroom, but she was getting nearer her goal. One of the engineers was cutting the master of The Sound of Music and agreed to show her how it was done. The lathes were quite high so he had to make a little platform for her to stand on.
Beryl was hooked. Before long she got her break as a cutting engineer at CBS studios off Goodge Street. It was a prestigious position – at the time there were only a dozen or so in the country. The first record she cut was Tubular Bells. A huge hit, it was pivotal in the success of Richard Branson's fledgling Virgin Records.Beryl was hooked. Before long she got her break as a cutting engineer at CBS studios off Goodge Street. It was a prestigious position – at the time there were only a dozen or so in the country. The first record she cut was Tubular Bells. A huge hit, it was pivotal in the success of Richard Branson's fledgling Virgin Records.
The music was first put on a 14in lacquered aluminium disc – the "master". Beryl had to set up the grooves so that they were spaced correctly, there were no crossovers and they weren't too fat. She would look through a microscope to check they were right. From the master, she'd make a "mother", where the grooves were reversed. This would be used to stamp the records.The music was first put on a 14in lacquered aluminium disc – the "master". Beryl had to set up the grooves so that they were spaced correctly, there were no crossovers and they weren't too fat. She would look through a microscope to check they were right. From the master, she'd make a "mother", where the grooves were reversed. This would be used to stamp the records.
It was a highly technical process and things could go wrong. She once got a tape from Scotland which had the wrong colour band at the front. It was a single bagpipe player. Beryl recorded it backwards. The piper was not too happy. But if she was particularly proud of a recording, she would scratch her name on it between the grooves and the label.It was a highly technical process and things could go wrong. She once got a tape from Scotland which had the wrong colour band at the front. It was a single bagpipe player. Beryl recorded it backwards. The piper was not too happy. But if she was particularly proud of a recording, she would scratch her name on it between the grooves and the label.
Beryl settled in Fitzrovia, in central London, and lived there with her partner, Jayne, for almost 20 years. In the last year of her life, she was interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Saturday Live about her career.Beryl settled in Fitzrovia, in central London, and lived there with her partner, Jayne, for almost 20 years. In the last year of her life, she was interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Saturday Live about her career.
Beryl is survived by Jayne and her five sisters.Beryl is survived by Jayne and her five sisters.
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