The Southern Counties Organ Festival will be held on Sat 5th and Sun 6th June 2010 at the Museum of Army Flying, Middle Wallop, Stockbridge, Hampshire, SO20 8DY

Exhibitors can either camp or put their caravan behind their exhibit, and we can make as much noise as we like...this is, after all, an operational training air base! If visitors want to stay for the weekend, then there will be space to camp or put your caravan at the far end of the field. Just bring some food and drink and join in on the saturday night, when we will have a concert led by 'Charlotte Rose', but with the small organs playing their part as well.

Contact: mr.gavioli1@virgin.net

See you there!

Alan Roberts

The Southern Counties Organ festival took place on 5th and 6th June at The Museum of Army Flying at Middle Wallop, near Andover, Hants.

The field that we use was open for those of us who wanted to arrive on the friday evening....several exhibitors did so, and it was good to greet old friends and meet new people. The evening was roasting hot, so there was little excuse needed for a cooling drink....or two!

Saturday was fine and warm, with twelve organs being present. It was decided to take turns playing, otherwise an almighty racket would ensue....a bit like Dorset last year in places!

The evening consisted of a concert on Ray Bryant's organ "Charlotte Rose", with hand turned instruments taking two separate slots of their own. Ray provided entertainment as only he can do, helped by a monologue a la Joyce Grenfell performed by Hazel Atherton.

After the event, several of us enjoyed the soft evening and took the chance for a good old natter.

Sunday dawned breezy and with scudding clouds, but the rain held off all day. The remaining four organs arrived in good time and joined in the playing. Those present were: Ian Rogers, Joan and Dave Wright, Steve Elliott, John Pettifer and his good lady, Ray Bryant, yours truly, Brian Parkinson, David Holloway and his lady wife, Cliff and Eileen Seamark, Jeff Davis, Rod Hurkett, Dave Deakin, Andy Hinds and Graham Kidd.

So a total of sixteen organs is a worthwhile event. My grateful thanks go to Ali Brierly at the Museum of Army Flying, to all exhibitors for making this a great festival, and to Ray Bryant and Hazel Atherton for 'The Entertainment'.

I have sent an E-mail to the museum requesting the same weekend for next year, so watch this space!

Alan Roberts