John Warr RIP: A brilliant pipe-maker with a rich and varied life

John (Johnny) Warr, the most cherished member of the Shires team, died on February 3, 2026 after a short illness and was laid to rest in March. He was 87.

All who knew John knew him to be honest, loyal and straight-talking man. When he talked, people listened as he always had something interesting to say. He started working at FJ Rogers in Bramley, Leeds, in 1954 aged 15, making church organ pipes. Harold Marshall who owned the firm at the time knew John’s father and offered him an apprenticeship.

Of that workshop, he said it felt like stepping back in time: 'All Dickensian, with a big coal stove in the centre heating the entire shop, no central heating…and I just fell in love with the place.' His family says: ‘It wasn’t just a job to him. It was his craft, his pride, his identity'.

John bought his pipe making tools for £10 from the then retired Percy Goodson for the agreed sum of £10 in 1955. As a gesture of good faith, Percy gave him £2 change, and a delighted John wheeled his ‘new’ tools home in a barrow. John later passed his tools to Chris Shires and they remain in daily use.

One job he was especially proud of was helping to rebuild the organ at York Minster after the 1984 fire. He later recalled: 'Where they could be repaired, we repaired and we replaced the others…We found an inscription on one pipe from 1828; 200 years from now someone else will pick that up and see it again.'

In the late 1960’s, John became metal shop foreman. During his time at FJ Rogers he taught many apprentices including our own George Fowler and Terry Doyle. He joined the Shires team in 2004 when he was 65. He loved that the work continued by hand, in the tradition he revered and he was immensely proud of Terry and what had been built.

He wrote a plaque for the workshop, praising the craftsmen as: 'Simply the best; no one has ever made better.'

John had a great enthusiasm for organ pipe making and was always impressed with new ways and methods to improve the quality of organ pipe manufacturing. He had a wonderful memory of previous work he had done and the interesting people he had met in his years as a pipe maker, recounting the funny and sometimes sad stories of past pipemakers and organ builders.

Even when he stopped working with us, we looked forward to his monthly visits where we would update him with the work we were doing and he would complement the lads on its quality. As a bonus, he would bring in pies and pasties for the staff. He would attend our annual Christmas ‘do’ and was given his bonus as a team member should.

John had a rich a varied life outside of pipe making. He went on regular holidays with his wife Kath and their family. He was a member of Bramley Elderly Action, helping the older folk who in the local area who needed support and company. He loved films and would often go the movie matinees at the local cinema for older people, where tea and biscuits were served. We all miss him.