SUNDERLAND THEATRE ORGAN       PRESERVATION SOCIETY

CARING FOR THE Ex BLACK'S REGAL/ODEON JOHN COMPTON (3/9) ORGAN.

Next concert details...

The next concert date is Sunday 17th May 2015 at 2.30pm. Our guest organist is Keith Beckingham making a welcome return to the console of the Compton organ. Keith travels from the Cotswolds to play for us today. For 50 years he has played organ and piano at venues all over the world. A popular programme of music is in store with selections from the shows and musicals, marches and waltzes...some real toe tapping and lively stuff.
Venue Ryhope community Centre, Black Road, Ryhope, Sunderland SR2 0RX (use side red door).

Ever popular Keith Beckingham.

Review of our last concert...

The concert took place on Sunday 15th March and our organist was Elizabeth Harrison making a welcome return visit. Elizabeth is an extremely talented player, and we knew that a real treat of a performance was in store. She travelled along with her Dad from her farm in Chipping (a village between Clitheroe and Preston) to play for us today. The opening selection featured "Too young", "O sole mio", "Down the mall", and "Destiny waltz". Elizabeth described herself as the "farmer" of the organ world, and on one occasion drove into the concert hall on her tractor. At the end of the show the machine would not start which was a bit of an embarrassment, and it had to be pushed out of the venue with the help of some of the audience! She is a bit of a tractor fan, having eight in her collection! We enjoyed a few tunes with a "bad weather" theme including, "April showers", "Here comes that rainy day", "Garden in the rain", and "Stormy weather". Elizabeth told us of her life on the farm, the hens had just started laying,  she keeps beef cows, and her sheep love to eat the heads off the springtime flowers. Her delightful programme continued with a "My Fair Lady" selection, some tunes for Mother's day  including "Wonderful you", and "Unforgettable". Elizabeth is a girl of many talents, her interests include rural crafts, pegging rugs, she is a trained sign-writer and holds an HGV and a coach driving licence. On her own admission "how does she find the time to fit it all in?". There was some rousing music with the popular "Stein song", "Under the double eagle", "Over the waves", and "Highland Cathedral". She has a quirky collection of "Homepride flour grader" memorabilia. The advertising gimmick of Homepride were the little chaps in bowler hats, and she has about two thousand items in her collection. There was a "Latin" tempo selection featuring "Quando quando", "Amore" and "Anapona" with good use of the organ castanets feature. There followed a toe-tapping waltz selection, "Too old to dream", "Who's kissing her now",  and "Sailing by" were among the tunes in that compilation. As the concert drew to a close we enjoyed some  1960's melodies, and a few more songs from the shows. An encore followed, and all agreed it been a fabulous afternoon's entertainment....come back soon Elizabeth!

Elizabeth having a morning "warm up" session on the organ.

Elizabeth at the console.

Our MC Keith thanks our guest organist.

Elizabeth with fellow organist Chiho Sunamoto.

Future concerts...

Matthew Bason will play the Compton organ on Sunday 12th July 2015 at 2.30pm. He travels to play for us from his home in Northamptonshire. Matthew began his performing career in 1994, and although classically trained on the piano, from the age of 12 years began to take an interest in the organ. In 1998 he studied music and education at the University of Reading (UK), and in 1999 won the ATOS  young organist of the year award. Other recognitions have followed, and he has played at prestigious hotels including the Savoy, Ritz and Connaught. He has performed at many venues in Europe and the USA, and we look forward to his lively style of playing at Ryhope on the 12th July.

The happy smile of Matthew Bason

Members Sundays...

Confirmed afternoons are Sundays 12th and 26th April, also 10th May 2015. Come along and listen to, or play the Mighty Compton Organ (1.30pm to 4pm). Further details available by using our email address below.

Photographs from the "organ archives"...

The famous Blackpool organist Reg Dixon MBE relaxes before his concert in 1977 at the Odeon Cinema in Holmeside, Sunderland.

Reg relaxes before the concert.

The organ console is on the move from the Odeon Cinema to storage which was the first port of call before a home was found. Installation at Ryhope Community Centre took considerable time with completion by 1992.

The Compton organ seated on a trolley to assist removal.

The successful purchase of the organ was only the start. Removal, safe and secure storage of the vast array of pipes and components followed. At first the console and all of the pipes, relay banks, effects etc, were stored at St. Marks Church. Although the console remained there, all the bits had to be relocated to a new home. This was the Humbledon water pumping station and in a room on the top floor, reached by two flights of stone stairs. This proved quite a task getting everything up there. The fortunate thing was that the storage area was warm, and this warmth was created by the pumping equipment/motors.

Relay banks, switches, pipes and instruments in store at Humbledon.

Clem Elliot is seen here in an Echo photograph at the console of the Compton organ shortly before he left for war service in 1939. Clem had the opportunity to play the organ again following its installation in Ryhope Community Centre in 1992.

Clem at the Compton just before WW II

Clem at the Compton shortly after installation in Ryhope Community Centre.

contact email address...ryhopecomptonorgan@gmail.com
see our expanding "Facebook" site...just type into the search "Sunderland Theatre Organ Preservation Society"
our concert programme also features on http://www.organfax.co.uk
posted by Neville.