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HIGH STREET METHODIST CHURCH, PENZANCE: During my stay in Penzance, I had the opportunity to do a couple of stints at providing background music for an exhibition on bible stories done by the children. I look forward to seeing my new friends in Penzance in June 2008 after being invited to give a concert here on this fine 2 manual Norman & Beard pipe organ.
CHAPEL STREET METHODIST CHURCH, PENZANCE: Here I am after my contribution to the Mazey Day festival. The organ here is one of the largest to be found in a British Methodist Church. A good bulk of this came from St John's Hall in Penzance. This is an extremely versatile instrument and the closest I have got to making a church organ sound like a cinema organ. The Swell manual has the best Tremulant I have ever heard - in my opinion even better than some genuine theatre organs.
MICHELLE: My partner Michelle at the age of 17 taken during our first holiday in Blackpool. She has been fantastic especially when it comes to allowing our dining room to be invaded by a Compton organ!
GLENORCHY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, EXMOUTH: At the console of the fine Bevington organ at Glenorchy United Reformed Church in Exmouth after my concert here on Wednesday 20th June, 2007.
SOUTHAMPTON GUILDHALL: The Compton Organ at Southampton Guildhall is the largest organ Compton’s ever built and has some 40 ranks of pipes plus the Compton patent "melotone unit". It has 2 consoles and here I am pictured at the theatre console. Although a long way from home the staff at the Guildhall are always pleased when the organ is played.
BARRY JACKSON: Barry is husband of my previous minister Reverend Ruth Jackson and a wonderful friend to Michelle and myself. Barry and Ruth have shown me lots of encouragement and true friendship. It is through meeting Barry that I have started to collect designer ties! As well as ties, Barrys interests include flags and pantomines. He gives talks on flag design and has a website which can be found by clicking .
SOUTHAMPTON GUILDHALL: Southampton Guildhall again this time im pictured at the church console. The stops are not the usual drawstop variety but the Compton patent luminous type whereby you press the stop to activate it and it lights up. Pressing it again cancels out the stop.
TETTENHALL WOOD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, WOLVERHAMPTON: At Tettenhall Wood United Reformed Church where I presented this organ in a "mighty Wurllitzer" style concert on Saturday 12th May 2007. This powerful organ was built by Bishop & Son in 1924.
ON PIANO: It's not very often that I play the piano these but whilst living in Worcester I had the pleasure of being pianist for the Redhill Singers where we performed at a variety of venues including nursing homes. Here I am photographed at my last rehearsal where I was presented with a very beautiful wall clock made out of Royal Worcester porcelain!
REVEREND RUTH JACKSON: My previous minister and friend who I am extremely grateful to for the support and friendship she has shown along with husband Barry. Before coming to Handforth, Ruth was minister in the Macclesfield Circuit and she is pictured here dedicating the new font at Prestbury Methodist Church, Cheshire. Prior to this she was minister in the Bloxwich and Willenhall Circuit. Had I joined Allens Rough Methodist Church earlier, I would have had Ruth as my minister twice!
ALL SAINT'S CHURCH, HIGHGATE: In November 2006 I got to play what is now a rare instrument - the Compton electrone 347 model at All Saint's Church in Highgate, North London. The 347 was the flagship of the post war Compton electronic organs. This instrument dating from 1948 was further enhanced by the additition of the Compton patent "rotofon" speaker in the 1960s.
ESSINGTON WOOD METHODIST CHURCH, WILLENHALL: At the 2 manual Hawkins organ at Essington Wood Methodist Church, near Willenhall. On this day I played my final service before moving to Worcester and I was presented with a hymn book from all the church as an appreciation for deputising at the 3pm services.
VIRGIN TRAIN AT MANCHESTER PICCADILLY STATION: One of the most enjoyable things about playing the organ is that I am able to combine it with my interest in railways when travelling to play for concerts. I always travel by train wherever possible although driving has its benefits. My most favourite class of train has to be the Virgin Pendolino as pictured here at Manchester Piccadilly station. I often ride on this class of train when travelling to London and the West Midlands from Manchester. These trains give an extremely enjoyable ride and are unique to the UK in that they "tilt" around curves in the track - like a motorcyclist does when going around bends. The interior is not like a "traditional" train but has the look and feel of an aircraft
ST MARY'S CHURCH, PENZANCE: At the organ of St Mary's Church in Penzance for my concert on Friday 2nd June 2007 of which the audience included members of the Cornwall Organists Association.
NEW ROAD METHODIST CHURCH, STOURBRIDGE: This was the very organ that "started off" my interest in the organ. It was walking past the console where I noticed what seemed like a million stops. I was invited by the organist to sit at the console and "make noise" so I learnt a great deal about the operations of the pipe organ here. This instrument is a 3 manual tracker originally built by Norman & Beard.
ST MARY THE VIRGIN CHURCH, BURY: My first recital for 2007 playing a lunchtime concert at Bury Parish Church on 26th January. This organ was rebuilt by Compton's in the 1950s and contains much Compton pipework, action and console. Of particular note was the excellent Cornopean reed and a solid Diapason - both typical Compton. The excellent quality of these stops combined with the wonderful acoustics of the church, enabled me to recreate some of the distinct sounds of two of Compton's best known instruments - the Royal cinema in Plymouth and Downside Abbey. Note the tie im wearing! This was given to me for my first ever proper recital at St Mary's Methodist Church, Handforth by my good friend (and ministers husband) Barry Jackson. Cheers Barry!
MICHELLE: A more recent picture of my partner Michelle taken on her mobile phone on 14th July 2006.
ST PETER'S CHURCH, BARDON HILL: At the Taylor Organ of St Peter's Church, Bardon Hill, near Coalville, Leicestershire where I had a fantastic weekend on 25th and 26th August 2007 providing background music during both days and playing a concert of well known show tunes by Rodgers and Hammerstein on the Saturday evening.
NEW ROAD METHODIST CHURCH, STOURBRIDGE: Me aged 11 playing for my first wedding at New Road Methodist Church, Stourbridge.
TADCASTER METHODIST CHURCH: At the 2 manual Bradford Computing Organ on 17th June 2006 providing background music for a flower festival here. It was wonderful to be invited back in the December to play for a fantastic christmas tree festival. I couldnt thank the church enough for their kindness and hospitality.
STARBECK METHODIST CHURCH: At the organ of Starbeck Methodist Church, Harrogate on 24th June 2006 where I gave a concert of old time tunes spanning the last 75 years as part of the churches 75th anniversary weekend. The organ was originally built by Compton for a church in the Teeside area. It was installed here in 1947 by Binns Fitton and Haley of Leeds.
"Wow! Please do come back again!"
F Kite - Kingswinford Methodist Church
TOWER BALLROOM, BLACKPOOL: The thrill of coming up on the console of the 1935 3 manual Wurlitzer at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool was an experience which will never ever be forgotten! I cannot thank my girlfriend Michelle enough for arranging this for my 24th birthday.
