Thursday 14 December 2017

THE SUNDERLAND THEATRE ORGAN PRESERVATION SOCIETY BASED IN RYHOPE COMMUNITY CENTRE SUNDERLAND SR2 0RX. LOOKING AFTER THE Ex SUNDERLAND ODEON JOHN COMPTON (3/9) ORGAN.

         Season's Greetings to all our readers.


Next Concert...

Sunday 18th February 2018 Cameron Lloyd.

Cameron is a firm Ryhope favourite and makes a welcome return to play for us in a concert not to be missed. He was born in 1980 and became interested in music and the organ from an early age. Following a family visit to Blackpool Tower at age 12, he was captivated by the mighty WurliTzer and became hooked on that fantastic sound. He much admires the playing of Reg Dixon who was the famous organist there for 40 years. Guided by Wolverhampton City Organist the late and much missed Steve Tovey, he began to develop his own distinctive style and sound. In 1999 he fulfilled his ambition to play that famous organ in Blackpool Tower and has returned several times to play there since. With his technical skills, he is part of the team that has returned a WurliTzer organ to the Empress Ballroom in the Blackpool Winter Gardens.
Cameron plays for concerts, ballroom and sequence dances all over the British Isles and we welcome him warmly back to the Ryhope Compton Organ.


Cameron at Ryhope in 2016
The ever smiling Cameron...
Cameron at the Astoria Barnsley (KG)
Cameron at the  Blackpool Opera House WurliTzer (DC)
Venue Ryhope Community Centre
Ryhope, Sunderland SR2 0RX
The concert starts 2.30pm enter by the red side door on Black Road. (doors 2pm) Complementary interval refreshment included.

Review of our Christmas Concert...

On Sunday 10th December we welcomed back to the console the popular Elizabeth Harrison for our Christmas concert and our last event for 2017. She had been playing at Maryport the previous evening, stayed over in Carlisle, and came to us from there. She opened with a lively seasonal selection including a few carols and then had a chat with her audience. She spoke of life on the farm at both Chipping near Clitheroe, and also a dairy farm near Barrow. She now has 8 "Marshall" heritage tractors and with family and friends takes them to agricultural shows. There followed another mix of music including "Tavern in the Town", Hello Dolly selection,  "Ain't she sweet" and "Cockneycapers". Elizabeth spoke of her ever increasing "Homepride" flour grader collection with all the little figures arranged in cabinets. Another selection followed including among many "Aces high","This is my lovely day", Here comes that rainy day again,  and a selection of Spanish tunes. Following the interval we enjoyed the "Teddy Bear's picnic", Stein Song, "Unforgettable", Housewife's choice theme and another seasonal medley. She spoke of her Christmas preparations and then played some 1960's tunes," also "Jealousy" and a few Latin numbers. The interesting theme to the ITV News from a few years ago followed, and to finish more carols and Christmas music including an encore. A super concert, warmly received by a well attended and enthusiastic Ryhope audience.


Elizabeth Harrison at the console for our Christmas concert. (NW)

Elizabeth dressed in a lovely sparkly top (NW)

A fair size audience gathers for the Elizabeth Harrison concert in Ryhope Community Centre. (NW)

The concert programme for 2018...

Sunday 15th April....Howard Beaumont.


Howard Beaumont on a previous visit to Ryhope (NW)


Howard at the Scarborough Spa Pavillion electronic.

Howard is a Ryhope favourite.

Howard at the Spa with the famous Castle backdrop.

Sunday 17th June....Adrian Rose.

Adrian Rose (L) alongside Paul Roberts (R)  (NW)

Adrian (L) on a visit to the Ryhope Compton (NW)

Sunday 19th August....Stephen Austin.


Stephen at Ryhope on the 19th August... (NW)

Stephen at the Ryhope console.. (NW)

Sunday 21st October....Andrew Nix.


Andrew Nix
Andrew Nix (L) with Tony Stace at the Ryhope Compton  2014 (NW)

Sunday 9th December....David Ivory.


David Ivory (R) with former Society chairman Ian Parsons.
David at a church organ. (DI)

David tells a few...

David entertains (COS)
Member's afternoons...

Come and listen to or play the Mighty Compton theatre organ on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month (1.30-3.30pm) except Bank Holiday Sundays and Sunderland Air Show weekend. Use the Black Road "red door" entrance.


Peter plays a few tunes during a recent member's afternoon. (NW)

A few memories from the Society archives...

An advert in the Sunderland Echo for the film showing at the Black's Regal. (SAS)

Nicholas Martin playing for us at Ryhope in 2007. (IP)
A Sunderland Echo picture of the Compton in 1977. (SAS)

Splendid view of the console in the Odeon taken by the Sunderland Echo. (SAS)

The Mighty Compton escapes from the Odeon Cinema by a side entrance in 1982 when the cinema went over to Bingo.

Black's Regal penny cinema token.
 


posted by Neville
email for Society membership details and concert information ... ryhopecomptonorgan@gmail.com
concert programme available on "facebook" and organfax.co.uk

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