A Chance Encounter – Porto, The Philosopher’s Stone and our Encounter™ Series of Guitars

“Encounter” – an unusual name for a Guitar you might ask? Let me explain…

My eldest Brother Steve Cassidy left the North East of England in 1979 and went to work as an English Language Teacher in Porto, Portugal. In 1981 he went on to establish his own language School on Avenida Fernao Magalhaes, Porto and named it “Encounter English”.

With a young Staff Team and high Turnover at the School Steve regularly recruited Teachers from the UK whilst on his annual trips visiting family in the North East of England. On one such occasion we were living in Leeds and Steve stayed with us and attended some interviews at the Queens Hotel in Leeds City Centre. One of the successful candidates from that day joined Steve at Encounter English in Porto shortly afterwards, and her experiences in Porto over there next few years helped create many of the characters and stories in a series of fantasy novels which would bring her Worldwide fame. Her name was JK Rowling and her experiences in Porto feature in her autobiography. Anyone visiting Porto and familiar with Harry Potter can’t help but notice the influences on the characters and stories in the Harry Potter series.

Steve made his life in Porto, married Paula and they had 2 beautiful daughters – Joana and Nicole – and they all visited us up in the North of England on their Annual trips.

Paula, Joana and Nicole Walking around Richmond Castle, North Yorkshire

Unfortunately Steve became ill in his late 50s and after a long struggle with Alzheimers passed away in August 2014 at just 63 years of age. After much soul searching, Steve’s family in Porto decided to sell Encounter English, as their own Careers had taken them in different directions, but I’m pleased to report that the School is still thriving today.

In Tribute to Steve, we adopted the name of his School and applied it to our Encounter™ Series of Guitars. In Steve’s memory we also make a small donation to Alzheimer’s Charities for every Encounter™ Guitar sold. His memory lives on…

Stephen Cassidy 3rd July 1951 to 27th August 2014