Christmas Organ Recitals

[George Houghton]

There has been very little activity of late on the Forum. Maybe everyone has hibernated for the Winter!

Anyway the Christmas season of good will to all men (and Women) is almost here so can members let us know where and when we can listen to Organs playing for Christmas activities.

To start. Dave Stubbs and I will be with the Pell Piper at Bramall Hall near Stockport on Sunday 17th December .
The Hall will be seasonally decorated and Childrens entertainers. Choirs, Hand bell ringers, Morris Dancers,and of course Santa Claus will be there.
Pre booking is essential through Stockport Council or Bramall Hall.

Whalley Pickwick night is on Wednesday 7th December when there is usually a couple of organs in attendance ( Details Later) The main street is closed and the shops open late ,all the shopkeepers and street market traders dress in Victorian Costume .A Fun Fair is also there. Well worth a visit.

Happy Christmas
George.
_________________
Dont despair. (Moses was once a basket case)

[bob west]

Hi George, You have echoed my thoughts about hibernation of Organ Grinders. Yesterday I took the big Gavioli to Harrods for the arrival of Father Christmas. It was the 21st time this has taken place and what a parade it was. I have to be there for 6-15 am. The Parede started at 8-45. I cannot start playing until 8-15 cos of annoying the neighbours. The Pop Group, Girls Aloud led the procession, the were Bands and Floats, Fireworks, Street Entertainers galore, real Reindeer. The whole thing only lasts about 45 mins, but what a show, what an atmosphere. i was away by 1000am. Bob West

[George Houghton]

Hi Bob.
Gosh that seems to have been some event I can't understand the neighbours not appreciating Organ music so early in the morning though.
You were certainly among the Elite of Show business, did anyone ask for your autograph

Going slightly off topic.
It reminds me of a job I did a few years ago when B&Q opened a new store.
I was instructed to be there for 6am. upon arrival there was no one in sight outside the store and I wondered if it was all a joke. I knocked on the doors to no avail, no answer.
About 6.15 am a car drew up alongside and a chap emerged to enquire if I had come for the Shower Booth that was advertised as one of the very cheap Store opening offers. Without thinking I replied that I had. which resulted in a tirade of abuse from the man who said that he had taken time off his nightshift job to get there early for the Shower bargain.he assumed that I was in the plumbing trade because I had a van
I let him go on for a while and then informed him that there was an Organ in the Van,so the shower was his.
By 6.30am a queue started to form outside the store and a manager came out to ask me to start playing , there also appeared a New Orleans type Jazz Band and nice young Ladies offering wine and hot sausage rolls to the punters. When the store eventually opened at 9am the queue had grown to about 1mile long. I understand that B&Q used the same format to open all their new stores and sold more stuff on the first day than they did in a normal week.
Good business strategy.

Regards
George.
_________________
Dont despair. (Moses was once a basket case)