Sunday 9 December 2018

The Sunderland Theatre Organ Preservation Society...
Looking after the ex Odeon John Compton 3/9 organ now housed in Ryhope Community Centre, Sunderland SR2 0RX




Best wishes from the Society membership for Christmas and the New Year 2019.





Notification of the dissolution of the Sunderland Theatre Organ Preservation Society following the Society's final concert in March 2019.

It is with sadness that the Society will be wound up in March 2019. The membership have now been informed and the audience at our last concert with David Ivory notified. The procedures laid down in the articles of the Society's constitution are being followed. The lack of support at our concerts, difficulty in finding people to serve on the committee to arrange and run the events, ever increasing hall hire charges, and sadly, only one of the original technical team remains to tune, maintain and repair the organ. The concerts are making significant losses which cannot continue.

Our final Society concerts...

Elizabeth Harrison...Sunday 20th January 2019


Elizabeth Harrison for the first of our last three concerts in 2019 (NW)

Elizabeth is a most popular and award winning organist on the countrywide circuit both as a musician and entertainer. She was born in Preston in 1976 developing an interest in music at an early age,  embracing the electronic organ and subsequently the theatre organ too. She is a career farmer with an interest in Highland Cattle and no doubt we will hear stories of life on the farm located in the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire. We are assured of an afternoon's splendid entertainment in her refreshing style laced with her light hearted humour.


Cameron Lloyd...Sunday 24th February 2019


The penultimate concert with the ever smiling Cameron Lloyd (NW)


The final Society concert with Howard Beaumont...Sunday 24th March 2019


Our final concert with Howard Beaumont (NW)


Review of the Christmas concert with David Ivory...Sunday 9th December 2018


David Ivory at the console for our final Christmas concert (NW)

David Ivory made a most welcome return to the Ryhope Compton for our last ever Christmas concert presented by the Sunderland Theatre Organ Preservation Society. David got underway with a lively tune "Girls in Grey",  followed by a waltz "Dreaming" and the popular "Perfidia". An Ivor Novello selection followed,  then a few Doris Day songs including the "Deadwood Stage". A Gilbert & Sullivan arrangement came next, and just about including something from every operetta. The first half closed with a most tuneful selection from the famous classical operas. Following interval refreshments David reappeared in Santa suit to play the second half beginning with some favourite Christmas carols. Indeed the rest of the concert took this theme with the "Skater's Waltz","Troika" and "Sleigh Ride". Selection's from "Snow White" and the "Sound of Music" followed, which  always bring Christmas joy. Also at this time, the ballet "Coppelia"is popular. Following a rousing finish the Society secretary told the members and audience of the dissolution of the Society following our last concert in March 2019. We all joined in with "Auld lang Syne"  accompanied by David on the Organ. A wonderful concert but tinged with some sadness. Thank you David Ivory.

This super photo of some of the committee and audience members with David in his Santa suit at the Compton. 



From the archives...a few organists who have played the Ryhope Compton Organ (in its present home or the Odeon cinema)...


Andrew Nix & Tony Stace in 2014 (NW)


Peter Jebson in 2017 (NW)

 The notorious Jess Yates at the Compton (then located in the Odeon) NW
Chris Powell in 2016 (NW)

The famous  Reg Dixon  of  Blackpool Tower Ballroom fame at the console in 1975 (NW)


posted by Neville
email... ryhopecomptonorgan@gmail.com
in addition please see our Facebook page.

Concert Venue
Ryhope Community Centre,
Black Road,
Ryhope,
Sunderland. SR2 0RX