Southern Counties Organ Festival

[Dave Stubbs]

I have received this information from Alan Roberts:

Regards, Dave Stubbs


Dear Organ Alley reader,

This is to inform you of the Southern Counties Organ Festival.

As an exhibitor at the 2006 event, you will have been aware of the limitations of the site, namely the Twyford Waterworks Museum.

Whilst this was an historical site, with some very well restored and presented machinery, both Graham and I felt that the show had seriously outgrown the venue, and as a result, we have been looking for another site more suited to our purposes.

I am happy to announce that the Southern Counties Organ Festival has now found a new home at Exbury House and Gardens, near to Beauliea, still in the county of Hampshire.

There are, however, some necessary changes to the way the show is to be run, changes that have been brought about by the management at Exbury itself.

Namely, that the dates have had to be moved from the first weekend in June to the third weekend, the 16th and 17th. Please note that it will now be a TWO DAY show, and not one day as has been the case previously.

The other changes to come about are that there will now be no expense money available, the reason being that Exbury already charge customers to access their gardens, so we cannot, in effect, charge them again to listen to the organs ! Also, there will be no mains electricity available, due to the physical size of the site (think along the lines of Longleat House, and you’re getting close)!

I appreciate that this makes the weekend more of an expense for exhibitors to attend, and I can only apologise; however, as the site is massive, we can quite easily place organs around the venue so that they are not ‘playing at each other’, and can be heard in isolation.

A camping area in one of the car parks will be set aside for exhibitors; organs that are self – propelled may be brought up to the camping area overnight (or alternatively left in position.....the site is locked overnight and has 24 hour security), providing it does not entail any damage to the grassed areas or pathways.

As Graham has been experiencing an increasing work-load, I have taken over the day-to-day running of this event Any requests for entry forms, queries, observations or comments should be addressed to me, or, alternatively to my e-mail or mobile ‘phone, which I will append below. An answering service, or text message facility is available on my mobile only.

It would give me great pleasure to be able to welcome you all to the new site next year, so please do give some serious consideration to Exbury House. (By the way, for all who are interested in steam railways, the Gardens boast a 12” live steam line, about a mile and a quarter in length).

Kindest Regards,

Alan Roberts

Contact details:

E-mail: alan@mrgavioli.co.uk
website: www.mrgavioli.co.uk

Mobile: 07866 055207
Home: 01380 830177... (note NO answering machine available on this number).

ALAN ROBERTS,
4, PARK VIEW COTTAGES,
LOWER ROAD,
ERLESTOKE,
WILTS.,
SN10 5UE

[Dave Stubbs]

Just a little reminder - The Southern Counties Organ Festival is on the 16th and 17th of June.

It is being held at Exbury House and Gardens, near to Beauliea, Hampshire.

They have a website on: www.exbury.co.uk

Regards,

Dave