News

Included in the recent refurbishment of Bilston Town Hall, was a little bit of 'TLC' for the much used Dance Floor!

The floor has been repaired, sanded, and completely re-varnished so it now looks as good as new!

Our dancers at our Weekly Tea Dance can now dance the afternoon away to the sounds of our 2/5 Compton Theatre Organ on a lovely floor!

 

 

 

 

Tickets will be available from here!

It is with sadness that it was confirmed today that the 4/57 Compton Concert organ which was originally installed and still housed in the Wolverhampton Civic Hall has been scrapped. 

Due to "possible asbestos contamination" of the organ, the largest of its kind built by John Compton company has already been scrapped as contaminated waste. 

 

Steve Tovey worked tirelessly in his time as Wolverhampton City Organist, to keep this organ in playing condition for all to enjoy. The organ saw numerous restorations and improvements under his watchful eye, thus making it one of the finest example of Compton’s work right until the end. 

 

We would like to thank everyone that has supported us and this instrument for the past decades, and to everyone who has fought to attempt to continue Steve’s work, in keeping this instrument in the public eye.

 

 

Congratulations to our teams very own Cameron Lloyd on being elected Theatre Organ Club (TOC) Patron for 2018.

We had the absolute pleasure of playing the 1937 Compton Cinema organ installed in the Pallot Steam and Motor Museum. Jersey for their Steam Threshing and Motor Fair!
This was the organs first public appearance in over 15 years - and the visitors loved it!

This concluded 4 days of Cameron Lloyd and Edd Hordley working on the organ, bringing it back to playing condition ready for the event. It was even briefly broadcast live on the radio!

In a few weeks time the team will pull together once again to finish the removal of another theatre organ. The Ex. Regal Chesterfield Compton has been owned by a member of our club now for over a year, but due to personal commitments of the owner it has remained in situ.

Now a date has been arranged for around 8 members of the club to finish the removal of this instrument. This includes the chests, winding, relays, bass pipes, and the Console, which needs to be lowered down off the side of the balcony! (Which we are hoping to Live-Stream on Facebook)

It brings us deep sadness and a profound sense of loss to announce the passing of Cannock Chase Organ Club President, and Wolverhampton City Organist, Steve Tovey.

Steve has been a huge driving force in the theatre organ scene here in the UK for some 50 years, and we owe him a great debt for many of the installations we now enjoy in the UK.

He will be sorely missed by all of us here at Cannock Chase Organ Club, for his outspoken-ness, witty sense of humour and his relentless... enthusiam and drive to keep the theatre organ in the public eye