Family firm marks studio's centenary

Celebrating Miller Studios' centenary in Dunedin last night are (from left) the firm's founder's grandchildren Barbara McKinnon (66), of Christchurch, Helen Smith (59), of Pukekohe, and Lindsay Miller (63), of Dunedin, and great-grandchildren Debbie Sollitt (39), of Sydney, and Bruce Miller (42), of Motueka, and grandchildren Brian Miller (66), of Dunedin, and Judy Bilkey (62), of Auckland, with managing director Tony Johnston (62), of Dunedin. Photo by Peter McIntosh.

Mr Johnston said company founder Oswell Miller was regarded as the best signwriter of his time. Mr Miller's son, Roy, who began working at the firm after leaving primary school in 1929, was the dominant figure in stained-glass window production in New Zealand and produced 90% of all government and church work.

Oswell's other son Ralph was a ''fantastic'' artist and his death at the age of 37 prevented him becoming a leading figure in the industry, Mr Johnston said.

When Roy's son Winston Miller started as an apprentice signwriter in 1958, he became the third generation of Miller to work at the family firm. He was an astute businessman who spent 48 years transforming the business, Mr Johnston said.

The celebrations include guided tours of the company's premises today and a dinner to be held in a marquee set up outside the business tonight. A farewell brunch was planned for tomorrow, he said.