Good evening, and thankyou for allowing me to join the forum.
Im not sure who i should address this to, but it may strike a chord with a certain Mr Haughton.
My name is Gary Minshull, son of the late William (Big Bill) Minshull, of Old Glossop, Former owner indeed builder of the Dark Peak Piper, a 49 key Limmonaire based endeavour of many years passed.
I mention Mr Haughton, because he is a gentleman who i have met on some occasions, often at Lincoln rally, in the hope that he may remember me.
This is because i have not been in touch with the organ scene since the sad death of dad early in 2008, and desparately wish to return to the fore.
When i did travel the rallies, regularly with dad, I was introduced to, and became friends with many great people, now i am afraid i am so far out of touch, and would be very gratefull of a little help to get back into style,
a few "good rally" recomendations, and friendly folk to bump into would be appreciated.
At the same time, i would like to try and re-trace the whereabouts of the forementioned organ, out of curiosity, although i realise this could prove rarher difficult.
If anybody out there feels they could help in any way, i would love to make contact, perhaps via the forum.
Thankyou for your time and attention.
Gary Minshull

Hi Gary.
Firstly let me welcome you to the FOPS Forum.
I knew your Father very well in fact he was one of the founder members of the North West Group, and served on the Committee for many years, He was the first group representative on the main FOPS Committee a position he held until health reasons forced him to relinquish the post.
The last time I saw Bill was at May Day Steam Manchester in 2008 when we talked about both our ailments, I was about to go into hospital for a quad Heart By-Pass and Bill was not feeling well with a Heart problem and was awaiting treatment, unfortunately while I was in Hospital Bill took a turn for the worse and sadly passed away.
I am afraid I have no knowledge of what happened to the organ he built "The Dark Peaks Piper"or the ex Jim Anderton Electronic Organ that he had but I am sure someone on here will know.
If you check on the events section on this forum you will be able to see the dates for events in the area and of course there is the North West Group Rally at Victoria Park Widnes on the 25th/26th September which is a free event with free Parking and usually about 50 Organs in attendance with many people who knew Bill.
Please try to make it to Widnes and be sure to make yourself known to me I can usually be found buzzing around on the Golf Buggy.
Regards.
George.

I thankyou sir for your reply, and for those kind thoughts of Bill.
I do have a small amount of sketchy info. regarding the Piper, but only vague, and i hope in the future to extend this. Sadly however i do know the fate of the ex- Jim Anderton electronic affair, and it is rather sad.; Shortly after dad's departure, Mum, who suffers with Altzheimers, decided that she wanted the garage emptying, and duly asked my brother to "get rid of it all" (him living local to mum and me not, he was chosen) but with him not having the slightest feelings for the organ (philistine), he took the instruction litteraly, and so it was broken up and went to the local tip ! needless to say, we haven't seen eye-to-eye since so to speak.
As for the rally sceene, thankyou again, i now have in front of me the list of events, and i WILL be at Widness without fail, incidentaly, that was the last rally i attended just after dad left us.
I say Will attend without fail, as it is not very far from where i now live at Golborne, midway between Wigan & Warrington.
Anyway, i do hope that your heart op. was 100/100 succesfull and that you are well, and i shal look out for you at Widness. (perhaps elsewhere also, if i can make time and space).
Thankyou again for your atention, I am gratefull.
Gary.

Hi,

I realise this is a reply to an old post, but I hope re opening it will prove successful.
We have purchased "The Dark Peak Piper" organ as restoration project. It has not played for 15 years and has fallen into disrepair. It had been purchased by a gentleman in Cornwall who had intended to rebuild the organ. Sadly he has been unable to fulfil that ambition.
We have now taken on the project and plan to fully rebuild the organ.

Any pictures, recordings or info would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

Ian