Some Society visits

In May 2000 the Society enjoyed a fascinating visit to the organ works of Harrison and Harrison in Durham. 

	Managing director Mark Venning is seen demonstrating the stages of construction to an enrapt audience
and our secretary Alan Owen is seen playing the demonstration organ.

In June 2002 the Society visited the organ works of George Sixsmith in Mossley, Lancs
	and were greatly entertained by the owner ...
......seen here demonstrating pipe making.

Then to Blackburn Cathedral

The Walker organ had just been rebuilt by Woods
of Huddersfield and  was demonstrated by organist
Richard Tanner and assistant Greg Morris.

he Walker organ had just been rebuilt by Woods of Huddersfield and was de

The sections of the organ occupy separate positions in the chancel.

Visit  to  Spalding     
9  November  2002                                           

Our  first  stop  was  at Spalding Parish Church,
a medieval building of great size and dignity.

The organ , by Forster and Andrews of Hull, 1891, was played by members (including Madeline Allington, seen here)

We moved to the new Burtey Fen Museum, containing a 4-manual classical organ, with some ranks by Schulze, formerly at St.Marylebone Parish Church, and a Cinema Organ from the Ritz,  Tunbridge Wells.

 The classical organ, is played here by Hon. Sec. Alan Owen.

     After lunch at the Museum
     our star Cinema Organist  Charles         McNicol
     gave a short recital  on the  Compton. 
     Then several members  had a go
     and found the attempt great fun.

Our final stop was at West Pinchbeck parish Church where several members tried the delightful 2-manual west-end Conacher. Grateful thanks to Mr. Nicholas Pitts of Burtey Fen Museum  who tunes all the organs, conducted us around the  churches, and made us most welcome at his Organ Museum.

Society visit to Norwich

In September 2002 the Society travelled to Norwich to visit, first, the lovely parish church of St Peter Mancroft.

Built by Peter Collins in 1984, the organ is a faithful reproduction of the classical organs of North Germany It is founded on the werk principal with mechanical action throughout, and all sections are unenclosed.

The organist, Kenneth Ryder gave a fascinating and highly entertaining account of the design and acoustic characteristics of the organ.

Then members of the society were invited to play. Seen here is our youngest member Danial Duveen receiving some kindly help before the grown ups had a go.

	We then moved off to the cathedral for Choral Evensong,

after which the cathedral organist David Dunnett described the Hill, Norman and Beard organ , third largest in the UK, and very kindly encouraged many members to play.

Visit  to  St Albans    
September 2003     

The organ of the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Albans was built in 1962 by Harrison & Harrison of Durham to a design by Ralph Downes and Peter Hurford. It consists of three manuals (CC – a3) and pedals (CC – g). The action is electro-pneumatic.

We received a warm welcome from Andrew Lucas, Director of Music, who demonstrated the organ and then kindly allowed some members to play. 

including our youngest member, Daniel Duveen, .............

and our visitor from France, David Gallois.

Designed by Peter Collins in 1989, in the style of Andreas Silbermann, the organ in St Saviour's Church is seen here played by past  president, Richard Eaton.

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2004

Elizabeth Mullarkey on the organ of Chester Cathedral

2006

Gordon Penistan plays the Frobenius organ in Robinson College Cambridge.

John Sears at Ely Cathedral Alan Owen plating the Letoumeau organ at Selwyn College Cambridge

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