May / June 2020 Number 78 & District Organists' Association Registered Charity No. 510567 Newsletter DDOA Events 2020 Saturday 13th June: Visit to Lincoln Cathedral and St Peter & St Paul Church, Lincoln. POSTPONED to 2021

Tuesday 7th July: Talk by Richard Brice. St Peter’s .

Monday 28th September: Seminar on ‘Organ Practice’ led by Dr Tom Corfield. St Matthew’s, Darley Abbey.

Saturday 17th October: Association Lunch, Horsley Lodge.

Monday 16th November: AGM and Chairman’s Evening. In your Newsletter RSCM Conference in Derby…………..3 John Rooks R.I.P...... 4 Thomas Trotter 800th Recital………..4 A Organ in Cheltenham..5 Derby’s Secular Organs……………….6 Members’ Notes…………………………7 Lockdown Stories……………………….7 Chairman’s Letter……………………….8

A Derbyshire Beauty

Visit to Organs in the Trent Valley

The March meeting of the On entering the church with its wide Association was fortunate to be open interior, one could not fail to be scheduled just two days before impressed by the gleaming presence the implementation of national of the organ in the Fynderne Chapel in quarantine measures to combat the south aisle. If the case is a the Coronavirus. At the time of statement of style for the sounds writing, just seven days later, we within, one is not disappointed. The seem to inhabit a completely speech is bold and forthright, different world! excellent for Bach, but also harbouring St James, Brassington. Organ by Forster & delicious French flavours. Our Andrews 1859 in early 19th century case. The day event visiting organs in Chairman, Tony Westerman, set the See Rodney Tomkins’ article on page 7. the Trent Valley began on Terry tone with a series of chorale preludes Bennett’s home turf at St Main photo: The 1998 Peter Collins Organ at St on Ein Feste Burg by Praetorius, Wystan’s Parish Church, Repton. Wystan’s Parish Church, Repton, with Geoff Pachelbel, Walther and Reger. The Howell at the console. counterpoint was crystal clear and when the cantus firmus was in the bass, the pedal Trombone gave all the necessary gravitas. Geoff Howell followed Tony’s lead with a Bach Fugue in G minor and a chorale prelude. As we each took turns to play we discovered that the organ bench was probably not the best position for appreciating the sound of this organ; at the console its response was exacting and unforgiving, but in the church the sound is wholesome and blended without losing brilliance. Dating from 1998, the Peter Collins organ incorporates half of its pipework from the Taylor instrument previously located at the rear of the north aisle. It was a radical move to locate the new instrument at the east end of the south aisle, sacrificing light from an east-facing window, but without St Mary’s, Newton Solney disturbing the traditional layout of Decorated pipes at Newton Solney the sanctuary and choir, albeit with small organ the Great chorus is and its spire can be seen for miles slightly awkward proximity to the particularly complete, extending to around. As for the organ, built by console. Taylor of Leicester 16 foot. The oak case was inspired Walker, Rodney Tomkins has (c.1874) was noted for his bright by the oldest known in Britain, the described it as ‘state of the art’ principals and fiery reeds and these c.1540 case at Old Radnor in when constructed in 1870. It is are well integrated into the new Wales. The flowing and fretted probably the last organ supervised scheme executed by Peter Collins, pipeshades were the design of by Joseph W. Walker, founder of voiced with the French classical Nicholas Plumley and the painted the famous firm, before he died in tradition in mind – broad-scale and embossed case pipes were the same year. Surviving without mutations and a Cavaillé-Coll scaled created in Peter Collins’ own radical alteration, it is an Basson Hautbois on the Swell. For a workshop. impressive instrument. The The generous time afforded by prominent reeds endow the sound St Wystan’s Church, Repton the morning session melted into a with grandeur. The quieter Organ by Peter Collins 1998 Clarionet reed on the Choir is a Incorporating pipework by leisurely bring-and-share lunch stop of great beauty. We had a Stephen Taylor c.1870 with tea and coffee kindly provided by the local team. Then we took a certain expectation of a heavy Great short journey to the next village, mechanical action when manuals Bourdon 16 Newton Solney, to see the well- are coupled, but, on playing it, Open Diapason 8 Stopped Diapason 8 conserved Bevington organ. This Principal 4 instrument, recently renovated by Open flute 4 Mike Thompson of Burton-upon- St Mary’s Church, Newton Solney Organ by Bevington & Sons 1882 Fifteenth 2 Trent, has a splendid case showing Mixture IV lavishly decorated pipes and with Trumpet 8 cornices slightly reminiscent of Great Tremulant north German organs. Sadly, the Open Diapason 8 Swell location of the organ behind a pillar Claribel 8 Vox Angelica 8 Gedact 8 and two low arches, means that Viol da Gamba 8 Principal 4 Voix Celeste 8 these features can only be Lieblich Flöte 4 Principal 4 appreciated at close range. Nasard 22/3 However the sound is very Swell Doublette 2 rewarding; the Swell is well Open Diapason 8 3 Tierce 1 /5 developed with some pleasing soft Stop Diapason 8 Mixture III Cor Anglais 8 stops and a lovely Oboe. Using the Basson Hautbois 8 Voix Celeste 8 ratchet expression pedal was a bit Principal 4 Tremulant of a struggle for those of us only Mixture II Pedal used to a balanced swell pedal. Cornopean 8 Violone 16 Oboe 8 Subbass 16 Our final destination was St Tremulant Principal 8 Mark’s Church, Winshill, a bit Bass flute 8 Pedal Octave 4 further down the valley from Bourdon 16 Trombone 16 Newton Solney and now a suburb Swell to great Swell to Great of Burton. Literally standing on a Swell to Pedal Swell to Pedal hill, the impressive Victorian Great to Pedal Great to Pedal church has a commanding location 2 St Mark’s Church, Winshill Organ by Joseph W.Walker 1870 Great Swell Choir Pedal Open Diapason 8 Bourdon Bass 16 Stop’d Diapason 8 Open Diapason 16 Small Open Diapason 8 Double Diapason 16 Dulciana 8 Bourdon 16 Stop’d Diapason 8 Open Diapason 8 Gemshorn 4 Principal 4 Viol di Gamba 8 Piccolo 2 Swell to Great Harmonic flute 4 Vox Angelica 8 Clarionet (TC) 8 Choir to Swell Fifteenth 2 Principal 4 Swell to Pedal Mixture III Mixture II Great to Pedal Trumpet 8 Cornopean 8 Choir to pedal Oboe 8 Vox Humana 8 Tremulant

St Mark’s, Winshill. A less than secret storage compartment in the console.

most of us were able to dismiss this. Tony Westerman’s improvisation on a Lenten plainsong theme demonstrated a wonderful range of sound colours. Thus concluded a most satisfying day for which we are grateful to Terry Bennett for organisation and to Mike Thompson for attention to last minute tuning, but also grateful that it was possible at all before the national shutdown of normal life. Laurence Rogers

World and Sacred Bean – the Music’, a 35 minute sequence of Recent Events excellent coffee which kept us going words and music which explores Royal School of Church Music for the whole day! some of the finest sacred music of all Conference time, focusing particularly on The day started with an significant literary and historical On Saturday 7 March the RSCM Introduction and Keynote Speech anniversaries. This session, led by held their first ever Membership before two rounds of workshops and Revd Dr Sam Wells and Noël Conference at Derby High School tutorials in the morning. Individual Tredinnick, featured St Martin’s attended by several hundred and small group tuition in conducting Voices and their Director, Andrew delegates. Many members travelled or organ playing was offered Earis, in an effective dialogue of from far and wide for this one day alongside a range of talks; Vocal conversation and music. event, which was packed Training Techniques, Lift up your with workshops, tutorials, voice, Let’s make an arrangement, The day concluded with an act of discussions and an act of worship, Inspiring Music in Worship and the worship at St Peter’s Church in and covered every area of church transforming power of music, to Littleover. The service was also led music. An excellent line up of name just a few. musically by St Martin’s Voices and speakers and tutors were on offer was based around the Common After lunch a third round of with some of the best known names Worship Evening Prayer service, workshops and tutorials took place in the profession; Adrian Lucas, exploring some of the lesser-known, before the main afternoon event, an Rosemary Field, Miles Quick, Andrew but accessible music for the liturgy introduction, demonstration and Morgan, Andy Bodkin, Hugh Morris, from RSCM publications. All in all conversation on the topic of Great Helen Bent, Tim Ruffer, Andrew the day was a tremendous success – Sacred Music featuring St Martin’s Earis, Rev Dr Sam Wells and Noël packed with stimulating talks and Voices, a choir from St Martin-in- Tredinnick. In between workshops discussions. Congratulations to all at the-Fields in Trafalgar Square, there was plenty to occupy oneself the RSCM on such a well organised London. In 2013 St Martin’s with stalls from major suppliers; event! introduced a new weekly event each RSCM publications, Church Organ Thursday entitled ‘Great Sacred Alex Binns 3 refined skills of research and hospital bed. We extend our Members’ News analysis, he embarked on a spare- sympathy to his widow, Patty, his John Rooks R.I.P. time career of constructing family and the close-knit community harpsichords using historical of St George’s Choir. It is with sadness that we record instruments as his models. His the passing of John Rooks, instruments have been much Organist of St George’s Church, admired and it was in 2017 that Ticknall, who died in March. By several of us had the pleasure of profession John was an engineer, playing his personal instrument at specialising in control systems at an Association meeting at Rolls Royce, but music was always Melbourne. a serious preoccupation in his life. At one stage he contemplated a Sadly a heart operation a few career as a concert pianist but his months ago led to complications interest in the harpsichord took resulting in intensive care for hold at a time when it was several weeks. However John comparatively rare to find such never lost his playing touch, instruments. Being a practically sometimes entertaining nurses gifted person and possessing from a ‘keyboard’ resting on his

Recent Events weekly. TT first played a lunchtime today was unveiled and became an 800th Recital by Thomas Trotter recital standing in at short notice alternative venue, which it is for at Symphony Hall, Birmingham for the indisposed GTB and the some 15% of the recitals. Many whole experience, coupled with the pieces have been commissioned An eight-hundredth recital is not warmth of the audience, left a and TT makes a point of inviting an event to miss and I was deep impression. “I really enjoyed composers who do not normally obviously not the only one to think it and thought I would love to do it write for the organ, often so! The majority of the again. This was a perfect producing something more Birmingham Monday lunchtime opportunity for a young organist interesting. Once or twice during recitals are held in the Town Hall embarking on a concert career. the season guest organists take giving us the opportunity to hear There was a lot of negative over, the most recent being a very the wonderful 1834 Hill organ put publicity about me being too young varied programme from Wayne through its paces by a world-class and not having the scope of Marshall. exponent of the instrument, who repertoire that would enable me to What of the future? TT seems to happens to have been its titulaire fulfil the brief, but I knew I would for the last 37 years. However, as be firmly entrenched. I calculate I relish the opportunity of playing 30 th so many people were likely to think might hear his 900 in 2025 and concerts here a year.” th like me, the recital on Monday 10 possibly his 1000 in 2030. GTB February was held in Birmingham’s There have been many changes retired at the age of 86 beautiful Symphony Hall. Tickets over the years. The 1983/4 recitals (coincidently I’m writing this are unreserved and both your took place in the more intimate listening to Ash Wednesday Choral Editor and I were surprised to find setting of St Paul’s in the Jewellery Evensong from The Temple we were almost in the ‘Gods’, such Quarter (Hockley) while the Hill Church) so there’s a target to beat! was undergoing a major rebuilding was the size of the audience. The Today’s recital was naturally of and restoration. Symphony Hall posher seats were occupied by the superbly high standard we opened in 1991 and in 1996 the notables such as HRH Duke of Kent have come to expect. An early Town Hall closed for a complete (whose wife, as many of us know, review from a usually censorious refurbishment so the recitals is an accomplished organist and, to critic read “Mr Trotter’s playing transferred to St Philip’s Cathedral many an organist’s regret chose to combines an immaculate technique for 11 years, returning in 2007. In walk down the aisle of York Minster with a penetrating, thoughtful 2001 the Klais organ we heard to that Toccata, thus setting the musicality that is generally trend), the Lord Mayor of Birmingham and other local dignitaries. Thomas is only the fifth City Organist since the post was officially established in 1842 and his longevity in the post follows the trend set by his predecessors with James Stimpson at 44 years, C W Perkins 35 and GD Cunningham a mere 25 years. The latter was succeeded by his pupil, the renowned Dr George Thalben-Ball who held the post for 35 years and played his 800th recital in February 1978, achieved more quickly by the fact that the recitals used to be Thomas Trotter at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham 4 associated with artists twice his including an intricate pedal solo. The very informative (and pricey) age.” Nothing has changed. (Your Editor and I would have souvenir programme informed us Today’s mastery was benefited from opera glasses to that the concert repertoire for each demonstrated in the customary observe the footwork!). One of TT’s year is carefully planned in advance varied programme; J S Bach’s favourite modern composers, Ad and meticulously rehearsed. It “Wedge” Prelude and Fugue in E Wammes, was represented by his contains all the music that he will be Minor followed by two of Miroir and the programme playing in other recitals all round the Schumann’s fugues on BACH. The concluded with TT’s own world. I, for one, am delighted to be commissioned première piece was transcription, following in the one of the guinea pigs and hope to a set of Variations on a Theme by tradition of one of his predecessors be so for a good number of years to Sweelinck (Ballo del Granduca) by at St Margaret’s Westminster (his come. the Canadian organist Rachel Sunday job), of The Sorcerer’s John Maxwell-Jones Laurin, which thoroughly put the Apprentice by Paul Dukas. instrument through its paces, An Organ Restored and Rebuilt - David Warner-Howard

The Rescue possibly a sample made by Snetzler on which his employees then built When I acquired this single the full rank. It has a special carved manual organ in the 1980s it had front cap unlike all the other pipes. been in a Methodist Chapel at The sound from these wooden pipes Willington, Derbyshire, just off the was exquisite. The Dulciana A38 road to Burton on Trent. The probably started life as a 12th and chapel was being demolished and was later transformed to a Dulciana replaced with a new building with a with a number of wooden pipes much lower ceiling that could not added to the bottom. accommodate the old organ. In the 1980s DDOA members were The instrument contained six unable to cast any more information ranks plus a bottom octave of 16’ on this instrument other than local stopped wooden pipes. A simple organ builder, John Poyser, believed pipe rack contained some of the it had come to Willington some 50 metal Open Diapason along with years previously. some dummies, and a one and a half octave pedal board operates I took the organ to my home, at pull downs. that time in Lower Hartshay, where I commenced to construct a house �� 8ft Open Diapason with organ using the pipework from the stopped bottom octave Willington organ along with some �� 8ft Stopped Diapason (possibly second hand chests and other Snetzler origin) pipework. However, several further The Derbyshire organ that has found a new �� 8ft Dulciana (formerly 12th) house moves resulted in the organ home in a private house in Cheltenham, much to �� 4ft Principal remaining in storage until the end of the delight of the new owner. �� 4ft Flute (as for the 8ft SD) the Century. Then,with no �� 2ft Fifteenth Methodist Church, whilst the keyboard immediate prospect of building a It was in a poor condition and has been remade from the old Choir pipe organ, I sold the instrument to was home to some ‘mice’ and a manual at St Mary’s Witney from Paul Derrett, organist and organ half century of dirt. However, I where the draw stops also came. The builder, then living in dismantled the instrument and case, frame, action and wind system Gloucestershire. He used most of after some thought decided that are all new, reusing old material the pipework to complete a single the chest was not suitable for a wherever possible, and the (dummy) manual chamber organ for a house reconstruction and eventually pipes were gilded by John Brennan. in Cheltenham and I was invited to scrapped it. On close examination the opening recital in 2003. The organ contains the 8ft ‘ancient’ it suggested that the organ chest Stopped Diapason, the slightly appeared to have been adapted After some research by Paul the younger 8ft Dulciana (some of which from an earlier chamber instrument following information was sent to are marked 12th), the 4ft Principal and that probably went down to GG. me. The metal pipework is from an 2ft Fifteenth. The 8ft Open Diapason There was no maker’s name but early 19th century organ possibly by pipes exist with the new organ as a Philip Wood, of the firm “Wood of Laycock and Banister. The wooden swap for the Dulciana rank should the Huddersfield” thought that the pipes may well be late 17th or early new owner so desire. The space metal pipework might have come 18th century. available (an upstairs room in a from the firm of Booth of The New Organ Georgian terraced house) dictated a Wakefield. It was difficult to date, four stop rather than a five stop but may have been around 1830. This is a one-manual with coupled organ. pedal board, tracker action and in an As for the two wooden ranks, an oak (and oak veneered) case with The inaugural recital was given by amateur organ building colleague wooden dummies on display. The Paul Derrett on 2nd March 2003. in Kent, Dr Nigel Perry, GP at ‘new’ soundboard is ex Gray and Farningham, thought that the David Warner-Howard Davidson and came from a Middle C of the 8ft Rank was redundant organ at Craven Arms 5 Victorian and Edwardian Derby’s Secular Organs - Rodney Tomkins

(Specifications of these two An article about the former Mechanics reading! Just imagine the glorious instruments are taken from the Institution and its linked Albert Hall in sound of all these low pressure notebook of J. Scotchbrook, a Derby Telegraph on 6thApril set me reeds played with a (hopefully) copy of which was lent to me by thinking. Although this venue was crisp tracker action. Together with the late Ed Stow) apparently used for many public events the instruments at All Saints and St it does not appear to have gone in for Werburgh’s, it must have provided A Brindley & Foster organ (no musical concerts. This prompted me, one of the best shows in town! details here) was built in 1904 for however, to remind readers, the Messroom of Ley’s Malleable A smaller 3-manual organ, this particularly those new to the City, that Castings. Further afield, a 3- time by Binns, was built in 1892 in there used to be several public halls in manual B&F organ of 28 stops was the Temperance Hall (later Elim, and around Derby that did actually host erected in the Public Hall, Belper and now Derby City Church) in musical events and even boasted (now the Ritz cinema) in 1882; it Curzon Street. This instrument organs – often quite grand ones. Most was transferred to Kedleston was opened by Alexandre impressive was the former Drill Hall in Street Methodist (Derby) in 1928 Guilmant. At some point (for the Becket Street, whose 1870 Bevington and dispersed in the 1970s. Elim Church) it was rebuilt by organ was opened by none other than Johnson as a 2-manual. I know Rodney Tomkins W.T. Best. This organ was maintained nothing of its later history. The by Adkins, but disappeared without original specification appears to be trace some time prior to 1939. The a sensible one for its size. specification makes mouth-watering

Drill Hall, Becket Street, Derby Organ by Bevington 1870

Great Swell Choir Double Open Diapason 16 Double Open Diapason 16 Bourdon Tr & Bass 8 Open Diapason 8 Open Diapason 8 Gamba 8 Bell Diapason 8 Dulciana 8 Lieblich Gedact 8 Clarabella 8 Wald Flute 8 Gemshorn 4 Principal 4 Stop Diapason 8 Suabe Flute 4 Twelfth 22/3 Principal 4 Flageolet 2 Fifteenth 2 Harmonic Piccolo 2 Clarinet 8 Mixture Mixture Sesquialtera Double Trumpet 16 Pedal Trumpet 8 Cornopean 8 Open Diapason 16 Clarion 4 Hautboy 8 Open Diapason 8 Trombone 16 Couplers: 5 unison Clarion 4 Octave Pedal William Thomas Best

Temperance Hall, Curzon Street, Derby Organ by Binns 1892

Great Swell Choir Bourdon 16 Lieblich Bourdon 16 Salicional 8 Open Diapason 8 Violin Diapason 8 Lieblich Gedact 8 Viola 8 Vox Angelica 8 Dolce 8 Hohl Flute 8 Gedact 8 Flauto Treverso 4 Principal 4 Vox Celestes 8 Flautina 2 Twelfth 2 Salicet 4 Clarionet 8 Mixture Piccolo 2 Trumpet 8 Mixture Pedal Cornopean 8 Open Diapason 16 Oboe 8 Subbass 16 Quint 102/3 Couplers: Unisons; Bass Flute 8 Octave; Pneumatic action Octave ? Sub Gt Mixture by Adkins 1906 Alexandre Guilmant

Your Newsletter and previous issues. Special As there will be very few ‘real’ events to thanks are also due to our report upon in the foreseeable future, The present health emergency regular proof readers, Tony please send reports of ‘virtual’ activities provides an excuse to explain how Westerman, James Muckle and that may be of interest to members. In the DDOA Newsletter normally Peter Williams, whose eagle addition, anecdotes, thoughts, opinions comes to you. Essentially the eyes help to eliminate typos about music and musicians are always process is a team effort, beginning and grammatical and factual welcome. Literary perfection is not with members submitting articles, errors. Thanks also to required; the Editor should aim for this! letters and news items. Without Melbourne Print for their Best wishes to our readers during the these contributions the pages excellent service and to Mrs ‘lockdown’. would be mainly empty, so thank Kate Landenberger for posting you to all our contributors to this the paper copies. Editor

6 on-Dove, Brassington, Dalbury, Hassop, Stanton-in-Peak, Members’ Notes Thorpe, Hayfield, Belper, Elton, Ashbourne St John’s, From Rodney Tomkins: Ticknall, Kirk Langley, Tideswell, Matlock St Giles and Parwich; we also included a number of good modern I wonder how many members examples, such as Derby Cathedral, Mappleton, noticed the two-page spread in and Sinfin. Bill had also managed to obtain access to Derby Evening Telegraph on 12 some nationally famous locations and presented me with February regarding the death of copies from Westminster Abbey, All Souls Langham Place, 100-year old Bill Attenborough. Birmingham Town Hall and Symphony Hall, Royal Albert Right up to his death in January Hall. The newspaper article described him as: he was a familiar figure in the “unstoppable Bill who proudly took photographs of the Cathedral, where he acted as a new Queen” (in 1953). volunteer welcomer. Professionally he had been a photographer with the RAF in the 1950s, becoming Fighter Command Photographer of the Year; after this he worked with a number of local firms and then, finally, with British Rail. During my time at the Cathedral in the 1980s, I got to know Bill quite well and was familiar with the excellent photographic work he did for Cathedral publicity. It was during that time that Bill and I got together and planned a series of expeditions to capture on film many of the historic organ cases in our County. I have a treasured album file with all these beautiful 10” by 8” prints which he kindly produced for me. They include Marston- Kirk Langley. 1894 Wordsworth with Bodley case. Parwich c1874 Abbott with 1907 case by Tapper Lockdown Stories

Derby Cathedral Music recording on our Facebook page every Easter Evensong, with a different few days in what we are calling choir leading each section of the Derby Cathedral Music #choristerschoice. There are lots of service. Derby was tasked with Department has been busy other activities we're doing virtually leading the responses in a setting thinking of creative and innovative with choristers including repertoire by Philip Wilby and almost two ways in which to keep both its learning, warm ups and preparation thousand people tuned in to join choristers engaged during the for the RSCM Voice for Life awards. in singing or watching in this Act lockdown whilst continuing to of Worship from home. provide music to support the On Maundy Thursday morning, our congregation's private worship at Director of Music led a virtual hymn You can view the fruits of our home. sing-along live on the Cathedral labour at Facebook page from his music room at www.facebook.com/derbycathedra Every chorister in the Cathedral home. Over a hundred people tuned lmusic Choir has been asked to record in to be led through some passiontide various pieces so that we can favourites. Before the lockdown came Alex Binns make a video collage of the whole into effect, our organists and lay Director of Music, Derby Cathedral choir singing together, but from clerks recorded as much music as they their individual homes. The Girl were able and this can be heard on Editor’s note Choristers sang a moving our website and social media pages, Now that our normal work pattern performance of John Dankworth's alongside recordings of our Cathedral has been disrupted, or for many Light of the World - in which each Choir from the past. The Lay Clerks of us over a certain age who are chorister sent in their own also enjoyed their usual Thursday not allowed out of our house, a recording to the Director of Music evening ‘pub’ visit on Maundy completely new pattern to life has who mixed and pasted it all Thursday, all from the comfort of their emerged. How has this affected together using the wonders of own homes in their first ever virtual our musical and worshipping modern technology! We've also social. habits? Has online technology asked choristers to select a filled the inevitable gaps? Have On Easter Day the whole Cathedral recording of their favourite piece we revisited old pieces or made Choir joined other Cathedral Choirs of seasonal choral music and we're new discoveries? Please send from across the world (Sydney was putting their thoughts together your stories for future issues of also featured) in the RSCM's Big with their choice alongside the the Newsletter. 7 Message from the DDOA Chairman

Dear Member, Many of you will have received an email recently giving some information about a generous legacy left to the Association by Ed Stow. After Cambridge, Ed worked in the Derbyshire area for several decades, both as an Electrical Engineer with British Rail and then as an organ builder, distinguishing himself in both fields. Ed's sisters, Helen and Ros, have acted as his executors and allocated a significant sum to the Association to encourage musicians to take up playing the organ and to promote organ restoration of the sort with which Ed was so enthusiastically involved. The funding will also provide for the purchase of a new box organ for Derby Cathedral and support an annual/bi-annual lecture on organ building by a national or international organ builder. Since that email was sent I have been in touch with Daniel Moult of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire to discuss a Bursary for an Organ Studies Student in their second year. Many of you will know of Daniel's international reputation as a recitalist and as one of the organ world’s guiding lights and presenter of The English Organ, produced by Fugue State Films. In these documentaries Daniel presents more than 10 hours of musical examples on English organs found across the world, including the five-manual Hill organ in Sydney Town Hall. Of significant interest to the Association is his work as Director of Organ Studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire where the course is recognised internationally as one of the most desirable and most successful, attracting applicants from all over the world. Whilst there is still much work to be done to determine the criteria applied to the distribution of the Bursary I am able to inform members that Daniel is delighted to have the opportunity to work with the Association. His good humour and positive approach to the support of students during a difficult period will, I am certain, produce an excellent outcome for the Association and the fortunate recipients of the Bursary. The committee has also been engaged with Alexander Binns and Ed Turner at Derby Cathedral to agree on the disposition and manufacture of a new box organ which will remain in the ownership of the Association but will be permanently housed in the Cathedral. It is hoped that the four-stop instrument will be built by Robin Jennings who has made organs for many international organisations and enjoys a fine reputation as a craftsman. Contact has been made with the IAO regarding the lecture by an organ builder in order that we might share the organisational responsibilities of such an event. Other elements of the projects outlined to Helen and Ros are in abeyance at present until we can escape our current confines, but the future for the Association is bright with possibility. We have been presented with a most amazing opportunity to help secure the future of organs in Derbyshire and to encourage new players to come to the instrument that has been such an important part of our own lives, thanks to Helen and Ros's desire to share Ed's legacy. I hope to be able to offer more positive news of progress in the next Newsletter, With every good wish for your safety and that of your families, Tony Westerman

Items of news or articles for the July/August edition of the should reach the Editor by Monday 22nd June, either via e-mail: [email protected] or by post: Dr Laurence Rogers, 24 St.David’s Crescent, Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 4SS. The Secretary, Andy Storer, may be reached via [email protected] Please visit the DDOA Website www.derbyorganists.co.uk for information about Association activities, past editions of the newsletter, photo gallery and many special features of local interest.

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