Our Timeline

In 1982, the installation of a Solid State Logic (SSL) 4000E Series console transformed RG Jones Studio into a top-tier recording destination. House engineer Gerry Kitchingham now commanded a fully SSL-equipped 24-track studio.

The Big Sound Department, under Bob Capel and Simon Honywill, was also making waves. One of the year's defining moments came with Pope John Paul II's visit to the United Kingdom — RG Jones delivered a full-scale sound system ensuring every word was heard by the enormous crowds.

Beyond the papal visit, RG Jones extended its expertise to the Chelsea Flower Show and major broadcast productions, continuing to push the boundaries of professional sound engineering.

In 1984, RG Jones faced one of its most formidable challenges: designing a speech reinforcement system for St. Paul's Cathedral, renowned for its 11-second reverberation time under the dome. The RG Jones team crafted a solution that effectively penetrated the cathedral's vast reverberant space, ensuring spoken words reached the congregation with clarity.

This achievement led to international commissions from other historic venues seeking precise sound reinforcement solutions. Today, RG Jones continues to be a trusted provider for some of the greatest heritage buildings including St. Paul's Cathedral, Guildhall, Mansion House, RAC Pall Mall, Royal Academy of Arts, and Chichester Cathedral.

In the same year, RG Jones provided sound for the official opening of the Thames Barrier by Queen Elizabeth II on 8 May 1984.

In 1986, the architectural landscape of London was transformed with the unveiling of the Lloyd's Building on Lime Street — designed by Lord Richard Rogers and opened by Her Majesty The Queen.

RG Jones Sound Engineering was entrusted with ensuring impeccable audio quality throughout the ceremony. With 33,510 cubic metres of concrete, 30,000 square metres of stainless-steel cladding, and 12,000 square metres of glass, the Lloyd's Building was a groundbreaking feat of design and engineering — and RG Jones provided the sound system fit for the occasion.

In 1987, the industry lost one of its greatest innovators as Reginald Godfrey Jones passed away peacefully at St. Anthony's Hospital. His legacy was never just about technology — it was about a belief in doing things differently, an insistence on uncompromising quality, and a determination to build an independent company that stood for something more than just profit.

Under his leadership, RG Jones Sound Engineering had spent decades pioneering sound for historic events, shaping British music, and delivering groundbreaking installations. From early public address systems in the 1920s to the biggest state occasions in modern history, the company had played a defining role in how Britain — and the world — experienced sound.

Those studio walls once echoed with the sounds of David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, and countless other artists. Meanwhile, Oak Records has since become one of the most collectible names in vinyl history. Independent. Uncompromising. Setting the standard, not following it.

In 1989, under the leadership of Robin Jones, RG Jones continued to solidify its reputation across all three divisions.

Installations:

• Wimbledon Tennis Grounds
• Lord's Cricket Ground (MCC) — state-of-the-art sound system at the "Home of Cricket"
• Cutty Sark and The London Oratory

Studio:

• Cliff Richard's "Mistletoe and Wine" — reached No.1 on the charts
• Barbara Dickson's chart-topping album

Big Sound:

• Thames TV's Miss World, LWT's You Bet, The Hippodrome Show
• Chelsea Flower Show, BBC Faraday Lecture Tour
• Open-Air Summer Music Festivals across the UK