Organ Fund
Organ Restoration Update
It is hoped that the restoration work will begin in January 2010. Once the work has begun it is likely that the organ will be out of action for four or five months - restoring pipe organs is very labour intensive. I do not know the exact cost of the restoration (at the time of writing this I await a revised quote from the organ builder) but I can say with reasonable certainty that we shall not have raised the full amount needed. It may be necessary to borrow a few thousand pounds and fundraising will need to continue at least into next year.
Fundraising efforts for the rest of this year are as follows:
The Adopt an Organ Fund scheme has the potential to raise almost all the funds we require for the restoration. This affords a unique opportunity for sponsors or their assignees to be listed in an historic document which will be preserved for posterity in the church archives. You can adopt pipes in your own name, on behalf of relatives and friends or in memory of deceased loved ones. Pipes can also be adopted to celebrate special events such as birthdays and anniversaries and on behalf of businesses and organizations. A certificate is issued in respect of each pipe adopted.
If you have not already participated in the Adopt an Organ Pipe scheme, please do so as soon as possible and encourage your friends, relatives and colleagues to do likewise. Various mixture (£20), 8-foot (£15) and 4-foot (£10) pipes are available for adoption. No 16-foot or 2-foot (£5) pipes remain available. Forms are available in church and from me at home. I can also send forms by email (these, of course, will need to be printed out).
As I said in a previous article, if you have a bicycle that is surplus to requirements you might consider selling it and donating the proceeds to the Organ Fund. Unfortunately, I do not have storage space for any more cycles. I will, however, organize any necessary advertising and I may be able to help with any repairs and adjustments, if necessary. You might also consider selling any other unwanted items for the Organ Fund.
Dianne Fox has a brand new boxed Make Your Own Monopoly set which she wishes to sell in aid of the Organ Fund. A Windows PC and a printer are needed. If you are interested in board games and are also into computing this could be for you. Offers in the region of £10. Contact Dianne (tel. 840168) for more information.
There will be a meeting of the Organ Action Group on Wednesday October 14th at 7 p.m. All are welcome.
If you wish to speak to me on any matter relating to the restoration of the church organ, you will normally find me on the organ stool at Holy Communion on the first, third and fourth Sundays of the month. Alternatively, I can be contacted by telephone on (1470) 01302 844643 or by email on vernonhoyle1@tiscali.co.uk.
Vernon Hoyle