Greetings from John Paculabo

It was 1974, ‘meet me in Eastbourne’ said my producer, Eastbourne I thought, isn’t that where people go to die and then forget! What could possibly be in Eastbourne.

Finding my way from London wasn’t difficult but justifying why I should waste an evening in Eastbourne just didn’t make sense yet this trip and this meeting was to shape much of my life.

After asking the way a dozen or so times, I finally found Silverdale Mews and ECHO studios and it was here that I had my first encounter with Helmut Kaufmann. Helmut had a four track studio in his bedroom, ‘wow’ I thought all the way from London for this. The studio may have been humble, but the man I met had such vision that his surroundings seemed of no consequence; he was a man of full of the Grace of God, and someone who was to become a firm friend and business associate over the next 32 years.

Such was the impression Helmut left on me that over the next ten years I brought many recordings to Echo which soon after my first encounter went to eight track. Then the change to ICC and to sixteen track, eventually to twenty four and the addition of studio two.

I have so many memories of working with Helmut on countless recordings in the late seventies and eighties, often working long into the night. It didn’t take long for the reputation of ICC to grow and in the Christian world at least, anything worth recording was recorded in Eastbourne. Helmut would work tirelessly helping me to make the most of what were extremely inadequate budgets.

Helmut supported by Elisabeth have sowed so much into so many people over the years that the debt owed to them will never be known, and cannot ever be realised. So many artists and engineers found their first taste of recording at ICC, where encouragement and help where in plentiful supply.

Through diligence hard work and prayer, Helmut and Elisabeth turned a small four track bedroom studio into one of the UK’s top recording facilities and
I personally cannot express my gratitude to them both for the friendship and support shown to me over countless years. The extra mile was never a chore it was always a gift given without the slightest hesitation, and I have much to be grateful to them for.

Helmut, so many owe much to you, not just those who passed through your fatherly hands, but the Christian community at large. This was the beneficiary of your diligence, hard work and vision, reaping the reward of resources created in an environment that allowed producers and artists alike to practice their gifting in a first class studio, free from the pressures that secular studios apply. Helmut you have the gift of making everyone feel special, and I count myself fortunate to be your friend, it was definitely a good thing that I ‘wasted’ that evening all those years ago.

I’m proud of you and feel very privileged to have worked with you.

John Paculabo