MIDLANDS & WALES DISTRICT 2009 CONVENTION
The COS Midlands and Wales district will be holding a four day convention based at Fentham Hall and surrounding locations from Friday 22 May through to Monday 25th May 2009.
Further details will appear here as they become available.
THE GAUMONT STATE THEATRE, KILBURN
After all the leaked information over the past couple of weeks, it is now official, the contracts for the sale of the Gaumont State, Kilburn were signed and exchanged at 2.30pm on Saturday 5th January 2008. This followed the transfer of eleven point two million pounds.
I am able to confirm that Rauch Ministries are in fact the new owners and that in addition to already owning the former Hippodrome, Golders Green they have also just bought from Mecca the Carlton, Islington. Claiming to be one of the fastest growing churches in the UK they minister to 5,000 at their base church in Brixton Hill each Sunday. and claim to be one of the largest and fastest growing churches in the UK. Starting from humble beginnings, with only a handful of faithful members, the church has grown rapidly and continues to grow. Five services are held every Sunday, with over 5,000+ people in regular attendance..
A skilled preacher Bishop, the Rev. John Francis who happens to enjoy playing the organ, heads up this religious body. Music clearly plays a major role within this organisation for it is reported that many attend their base in Brixton just for the music.
Plans for the installation of 4,000 seats and an altar at Kilburn are in the hands of Irish contractors and one plan that has be spoken of is to turn the State into a base for broadcasting televised religious programmes around the world. Not surprisingly all representatives who have visited the State have been somewhat overwhelmed at the building. Although a little over the top in some of their remarks, they do appear to feel it a privilege to be the custodians of such a beautiful building.
As they have yet to clear their lines with the local authority regarding the exact use to which the building will be put, it is too early to establish the use the Wurlitzer will get or whether outside parties might be able to hire the building.
For the time being therefore, the new owners need time finally to make public their plans. For certain, the building is going to benefit but whether the new finance director can be persuaded to run a preventative maintenance programme on the Wurlitzer remains to be established later.
Len Rawle January 08
BLACKPOOL OPERA HOUSE WURLITZER
Four mid-week concerts have been booked for 2008. They have been arranged by Steve Tovey and Cameron Lloyd, who are also looking after the organ. The concerts are in March, June, September and December 2008. Further details in 'What's on'
11th December 2007
BANGOR ACADEMY
The final concert on the 3/6 Compton at Bangor Academy on Saturday evening was a great success. The hall was packed to capacity, and the audience enthusiastically enjoyed solo numbers and piano/organ duets from Richard Hills and Simon Gledhill, along with a hilarious Buster Keaton comedy silent, in which the two organists effected a smooth changeover at the console in the middle of the film. The usual excellent lighting, along with smoke and bubbles, was provided by John Pollack and colleagues, and Ian Sinclair was there to record the event for the BBC in Northern Ireland.John Leeming
October 2007
NEW HOME FOR THE NORTHERN WURLITZER
Northern District Secretary Godfrey Nield writes: ll members will know that for some time we have been working with three potential venues to locate a new home for our Wurlitzer. For reasons of location and the fact that the building was available and ready immediately to install the organ, one venue became a front runner. The Foundation that manage the building met yesterday ( 13th September ) to discuss our proposals and gave a resounding yes to accept the organ. The venue is *THE VICTORIA HALL in SALTAIRE *near Shipley. This is a magnificent listed building in this world heritage site model village. Needless to say all the team here are delighted that we have been able to secure such a prestigious venue. The organ pipe-work will be installed under stage in two chambers and the console will rise on a lift to the centre of the stage. I do have to include a small word of caution that we still have to have detailed meetings to discuss operation and a working relationship and of course we have to raise the funds to do the work and that could be around the £90,000.00 mark. Having said that I am confident that all will go well and the team here will move heaven and earth to have the organ playing again by summer 2008. More details will be in the COS newsletter. We will work with the other two venues to locate other organs for them and assist them as much as we can, and we do thank them for their support so far. Again, more details to follow.
Godfrey Nield.
September 2007
FORMER REX, STRATFORD
After some 30 years in storage the 2/7 Wurlitzer originally installed at the Rex cinema in London's east end it is now being rebuilt by a small group of enthusiasts in the Lake District. When completed it will be installed at the Royalty Cinema, Bowness-on-Windemere, which retains its original 1927 interior intact - which will be exactly contemporary with the organ. The organ has been stored for all these years by Charles Davidson and it remains part of his collection.
The group of enthusiasts have called themselves "The Furness Theatre Organ Project" and are eager to recruit more members/supporters. To request details and a membership form contact group chairman Mark Latimer at opendyapson@btinternet.com or write to him at 118 Chapel Street, Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria. LA15 8RX.
September 2007
APOLLO HAMMERSMITH
The original Compton organ at the Apollo theatre has risen again.
After months of painstaking work, Peter Hammond and his dedicated team of restorers have brought this wonderful Compton back to life after many years of neglect.
On Wednesday 25th July, one of the Uk's top theatre organists Richard Hills, brought up the newly restored Compton console before an invited audience to mark the return of one London's finest cinema organs that has survived in its original building. Among the very appreciative audience were local dignitaries, the press and TV.
July 2007
TOOTING WURLITZER
Len Rawle reports that Tooting has suffered flooding of between 18-20" deep in the three organ chambers and 4" in the orchestra pit. The water apparently poured in through three side and rear doors of the theatre and the internal manhole cover in the rear passage behind the chambers blew open under back pressure of the main drainage system.
After 4 hours of pumping using a sump pump the level was reduced down to 3" in the chamber by the time the band of helpers had to leave on Friday. Len says that there is likely to be considerable damage as the water was well up the base of the 16' pipes so all those chests on the floor will be in a bad way.
The ground frame and wooden trunking will also be sodden, so it will be a while before we can finally check the full extent of the damage.
As a result of this disaster, the two planned concerts for later this year will now have to be abandoned.
Anyone who purchased advanced tickets at previous concerts and who did not therefore leave their address will need to get in touch with Judith or Len if they require a refund, alternately they can use their ticket at a forthcoming ATOS concert.
Len Rawle
July 2007
SAVE THE BRADFORD ODEON
On Saturday the 14th July I attended a protest at the former New Victoria Cinema Bradford. This was a hug the building organised by The Bradford Odeon Rescue Group, the building was known as the Odeon for the last 32 years of operation after changing to three cinemas and Bingo. Much of this building remains intact underneath the 1968 internal partition walls. The magnificent ballroom for example is virtually totally complete . The organ chambers still remain as does the switch to turn on the blower and the door into the orchestra pit from under the stage. At the age of 13, just after starting organ lessons I was fortunate to have a play on the WurliTzer one morning. This played a large part in my life long interest in organs and of course means I have a 'soft' spot for this magnificent building. Unfortunately the Bradford Council are determined to demolish the building and we will end up with another car park.
Godfrey Nield. (Northern District Secretary)
July 2007
STATE THEATRE, KILBURN
IIt is understood that the State theatre in Kilburn, London has been sold and will close on 19th August. The ATOS who present concerts at the venue and maintain the organ, think that there are hopeful signs for the long term future of the building.
June 2007
NEWS FROM COS NORTH
The eagerly awaited CD compilation of live recordings from the COS Northern District Convention last year is now available. It features organists Simon Gledhill, Richard Hills and Lyn Larsen, and the Wurlitzer at Howden-le-Wear, the Ossett Town Hall Compton/Christie and our own Northern District Wurlitzer (sadly now removed from Brighouse and currently in storage).
This is a souvenir of a very special event, and is one that all organ enthusiasts and lovers of good music will want to have in their collection.
We are deeply grateful to the three artistes and the teams at Ossett and Howden-Le Wear for allowing us to issue this CD. ALL proceeds will go to our Wurlitzer installation fund and we hope that you will purchase a copy to 'boost' our funds.
The CD is available directly from COS sales – see Sales link on this web site for details. Members of the Northern team will also have copies at certain events throughout the year.
NEW HOME FOR THE BRIGHOUSE WURLITZER
We are currently working with three potential venues who have a serious commitment to installing the Wurlitzer. This is a fortunate position to be in and any of the three venues would make a first class home for our organ. The usual considerations of how it will best fit in the building, the cost of installation, likely audience support, availability of the hall etc etc are all being carefully considered and we hope to have some positive news later this year.
Godfrey Nield (Northern District Secretary)
June 2007
WATFORD COLOSSEUM
At the end of last year Robert Rowley and Richard Hills visited the Colosseum and, after a few hours, were able to get the organ playing again. Robert has subsequently been entrusted with the work to restore the Compton to a reliable and presentable condition and the Council have launched an appeal.
On March 12th, following an intensive day of work from Robert Rowley and Andrew Barham, the Chairman of Watford Council, Mr Rabi Martins, launched the appeal and then introduced Richard at the Compton. The effect of the organ in the hall is superb. There is a real ‘x’ factor and the organ seems to fit the hall like a glove. The Council should be applauded in their support for the organ and need to raise a modest £3,500 in order to complete the work, which centers around replacing the main cable, and re-leathering various chests.
ERIC ATKIN
It is with great sadness that we hear of the sudden death of Eric Atkin on 11th January, following a heart attack.
Eric was Southern Secretary of the Theatre Organ Club, and, jointly with his wife Daphne, was editor of the TOC's Southern newsletter, 'News South', a task which he has performed ever since the death of Ralph Bartlett in 1988.
Eric was one of the stalwarts who was in at the very beginning of the theatre organ preservation and hobby movement, right from the TOC's foundation in 1938. He was also Southern District Secretary of the Cinema Organ Society for a period.
Eric and his wife Daphne have been familiar figures at theatre organ concerts of all groups and societies over the southern half of the country, often with the TOC Sales Stall. Eric will be very much missed.
The COS extends their deepest sympathy to Daphne and the family.
Posted January 2007
