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The
season is now drawing to a close after an eventful summer. I am out and
about in the run up to Christmas at various locations.
If there are anymore photo opportunities I will post them as they happen
but most are private bookings now. |
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Riccall
Vintage Fun Day on 27th December drew the crowds on what was a bright
sunny morning. There were the usual assortment of vintage engines,
tractors, vehicles and the field opposite was busy all day with
ploughing. |
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Saturday the
16th saw me over in Manchester at Stretford Mall shopping centre for the
day with Swinging Sisters.
The centre had booked me for the day to play Christmas Carols. |
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The
2nd Weekend in December saw me at Ravenspring Park. This is the home of
Brighouse & Halifax Model Engineering Club and I had been invited to
play at the Santa Special Weekend.
There were three miniature engines on the larger track running every
ten minutes carrying people to and from Santa's Grotto. On Saturday I was
outside the Grotto with the 20 Keyless Reed organ although the organ
developed a fault which meant it was only playing 18/19 notes in the
afternoon. Meanwhile Swinging Sisters was keeping everyone entertained
higher up the site. On Sunday the weather prevented any hand-turning but
the Christmas music was still played near the 5" track. Over 600
people visited the site over the weekend and I look forward to helping
again next year. |
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Saturday 2nd
December saw me start my Christmas playing at Aspin Park County Primary
School at Knaresborough. The school were holding their Christmas Fayre and
I was providing music in the entrance as people came in and out. The Fayre
was very well attended and all the classrooms were in use with stalls and
games. There was even a Santa's Grotto. A couple of the children had a go
at playing the organ. |
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| Saturday
afternoon saw me playing at Holy Redeemer Church in York for their
Christmas Fayre. A very busy afternoon with lots to see and do. These
included all the usual Christmas stalls as well as a miniature railway
taking children to see Father Christmas. |
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The
Stockyard saw it's 2nd Gathering of the year which was held with a small
Mechanical Organ Owners Society Gathering the last weekend in October.
There were nine different organs playing over the two days with members
from as far away as Manchester & County Durham. Pictured above are
Chris & Darren who helped both me and Tony (top left) with some
hand-turning.
There was a good turnout of miniature steam, motorbikes, vehicles and
engines. |
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Wellick
Heritage Weekend was held on 7th & 8th October. There were lots of
things to see including stationery engines, miniatures, models, stalls,
bikes, etc..
I was helped on the 21 Keyless Trueman Organ by Lewis (age 8) who is seen
below keeping the public entertained.
Dot (centre left) also kept the children amused with her display of corns,
grinding & Yorkshire life & history. |
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Ashover
Finale & Light-up took place the last weekend in September.
As always it rained. But the Saturday night light up was well worth
looking round. There were plenty of stationery engines, motorbikes,
tractors, stalls. commercials & military. I was the only organ there
this year. |
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North West
F.O.P.S. held their annual gathering at Widnes on 23rd & 24th
September. There was the usual assortment of organs, vintage vehicles,
stationery engines and stalls. One or two organs rarely seen out were
there including De Watermolen owned by Norman Kendall. |
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Kirklees
Light Railway held a Gala weekend in September with a few vintage items
invited. I took the organ along and enjoyed a very good weekend
entertaining the visitors. All four of the miniature trains were running
all weekend.
www.kirkleeslightrailway.com |
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| Freddie
was one on 10th September & I was asked to take the Swinging Sisters
organ along to his 'clown' themed birthday party at Westella near Hull. As
can be seen form the pictures it was somewhat of a tight squeeze but the
event had trampoline bungee, circus acts, balloon figures, plenty of food
and drink. The event was Organised by 'The Main Event' (See Links Page). |
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Tockwill
Vintage Rally was held the 1st weekend in September on what turned out to
be a wash-out on Saturday. Sunday was a little better but strong winds
caused problems on the rally field. Apart from that there was a good
turnout of exhibits with some rare items on display. There was a road run
on Sunday morning (Postponed from Saturday) and a large turnout of
tractors & stationery engines. |
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Harewood
House Family Steam Weekend was held Bank Holiday weekend. There was a
large selection of road rollers, many were working mending part of the
estate road with a stone crusher. Two engines were running threshing
machines. There was a large selection of motorbikes and commercials and a
large fun fair added to the atmosphere. Two other organs were present as
well as my own three. |
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Rockingham
Castle was held on 11th - 13th August on the windiest, weekend of the
year. It also proved to be the wettest on the Sunday as heavy rain fell
before the show got underway. This lead to a number of exhibitors (myself
included) packing up and leaving as there had been a shortage of visitors
on the Saturday due to the overcast and cold weather. That said, there was
a lot of things to see had the weather been better. There was six amateur
organ builders present, one 98 key Gavioli organ my own 3 organs, together
with full sized & small steam, bikes, military vehicles, the usual
assortment of stationery engines, commercials etc.. There was also a dog
show, miniature train layout, fun fair and trade stalls.
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Pickering
Steam Fair got off to a wet start with torrential rain & gale force
winds the day before. However the event was blessed with good weather
whilst open. The show was spread over the three fields and included a road
run into Pickering on Saturday evening which virtually closed the town.
Saturday night saw the field lit up with engines and stage shows. |
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Erewash
Country & Steam Fair was held the last three days in July. Despite
exceedingly hot temperatures on Friday the attendance was low. Saturday
& Sunday were an improvement on numbers but nothing too exciting.
The event itself was very large with a fun fair, plenty of full
sized and miniature steam engines, the usual assortment of classic cars,
bikes, stationery engines etc.
There was also Shire horses, goats, parrots, owls, chickens, ducks
& geese.
The main arena had the usual assortment of entertainment throughout
the weekend. |
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| Withernsea
Seaside Steam got off to a cracking start with a violent thunder storm
just 15 minutes after the organs started playing. Luckily once that had
passed over, the remainder of the weekend was fine & dry. There were
the usual selection of large and small engines, stationery engines, fire
engines and stalls. There were 3 organs including Swinging Sisters and my
21 Keyless Pipe which was kept busy both days with a steady stream of
children wanting to have a go at playing it. The weekend included the town
carnival parade on Saturday afternoon and a steam road run around the town
to start Sunday off. |
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| Crayke
Village Carnival was held on Sunday 16th July on the village sports
fields. The event was opened by Sir. Jimmy Saville who had been evacuated
there as a child from Leeds. The carnival was busy all day with a small
fun fair, my three organs, ferrets, tractors, vintage fire engine,
children's games, refreshments & a large selection of stalls. There
were children dancing, juggling, and hobby horse racing in the main arena
throughout the afternoon. Sir Jimmy toured all the stalls and had a go on
the 20 Keyless Reed Organ. Special thanks go to Redshaw Builders Limited
who sponsored the organs for the day and to the many children who had a go
at hand-turning. I am sure the local school will be full of certificates
on Monday. |
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Riccall
Vintage Rally was held on 15th/16th July on a very hot weekend. I had 3
organs there but only managed to stay Saturday due to another event.
As always there was a good display of exhibits but numbers were down a bit
on previous years. There was a steady flow of people though all day &
funds raised help Cancer Research & British Heart Foundation. |
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| Saturday
8th July saw me taking all three hand turned organs along to Ethno In The
Park at West Park, Goole. The day was an open air concert by international
musical youth. I was playing to people entering & leaving the park and
played non stop from noon till 4.00 p.m. when the event finished.
Unfortunately as a result I did not manage to get any photographs of this
event but there is a website you can visit at http://www.ethnoengland.co.uk/eitp.htm |
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Duncombe
Park Steam Fair was held the 1st weekend in July. With hot, dry weather
and a large selection of vintage machinery, trade stands, organs, fun
fair, shows, craft tent and even a facility for those wanting to watch
England lose it was a great weekend. I was there with two hand turned
organs, the 48 keyless reed playing especially well in the heat. |
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York City
Council held a family fun day at West Park in Acomb on 25th June. Despite
the World Cup there were lots of people attended. There was miniature
steam engines, falconry display, York R.I. Band, Punch & Judy, charity
& local stalls. The organ was playing outside the newly opened
cafe. |
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| Stockton
on the Forest held their village carnival on 24th June. There were charity
stalls, a small fun fair, St. Andrews Band, and I had 2 organs there.
Quite a few of the children had a go at playing the 20 keyless reed organ
as can be seen below. |
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Holderness
Vintage Machinery Club held it's summer rally at Keyingham showground.
There was a large selection of working tractors, stationery engines,
models etc.. as well as three organs.
Although a small event there was a good friendly atmosphere and plenty of
children had a go at playing the organs. |
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The
Stockyard Summer Gathering saw a very sunny day on Saturday but a heavy
shower Sunday. There was plenty to see with large & small steam
engines, tractors, stationery engines, dancers, Punch & Judy show,
owls, fairground rides & my reed organ & busker pipe organ
playing. |
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Anglesey
Vintage Rally was held at Hen Blas again this year. There were a large
selection of full sized engines & rollers, together with a number of
miniatures. Also on display was a Merlin Spitfire engine which was
demonstrated each day in the main arena. Despite a wet day on Sunday, the
event kept going with the only casualty being the parade of steam in the
main arena. |
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On
the way to Anglesey I was asked to do a corporate event at Cottingham near
Hull, for The Main Event. The event was a networking evening for a local
company and took the form of a fair ground with stalls and the organs. I
had Swinging Sisters playing outside the marquee and I was playing the
hand turned reed organ inside. |
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Despite cold
weather Wollerton Steam Fair was a great success. Getting bigger every
year there was plenty to see for everyone in all parts of the showground.
Large & miniature steam, engines, fun fair, large & small organs,
cars, bikes, models & shows. All set in tranquil parkland in the
centre of Nottingham. |
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Asterdale
Easter Gathering
Managed to have a dry weekend until late Monday
morning. This year saw more exhibitors and a few more public than last
year. There were six organs in total. Also a selection of bikes, cars,
stationery engines and model boats. |
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FOPS
A.G.M.
This was held on 1st April at Graham Atkinson's private collection.
A large number of members and guests enjoyed the morning listening to the
eight organs in the collection.
A buffet lunch was much appreciated by all present, followed by the
meeting.
The afternoon rounded off by listening to the organs play again. |
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On Sunday
2nd April members gathered at the home of Alan Baldry at Holme On Spalding
Moor. There they were treated to six organs playing outside and Bob West
playing his Raffin in the cafe. I joined Bob with the 20 keyless Trueman
Reed Organ. This was it's first outing since I bought it in March. |
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Moos
A.G.M.
This was held on 18th March at Richard Preston's private collection.
In excess of 100 members and guests enjoyed a morning listening to the
organs playing, including the guest 98 Key Gaviolli owned by Neil
Corner
. Outside was a
selection of miniature steam engines and implements.
A buffet lunch was much appreciated by all present, followed by the
meeting.
The afternoon rounded off by listening to the organs play again.
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Sunday saw a
number of members & guests visit the workshop of Andrew Pilmer and the
home of Nigel Myers where the 89 key 'De Grote' Gavioli was playing during
the day. Andrew showed people around the workshop, organ store and music
cutting room. Meanwhile the organs played next door. Also played was a
small hand turned barrel organ, a De Cap cafe organ and a Raffin hand
turned.
Andrew did draw everyone's attention to the following website http://www.pipes4organs.org |
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The season
started early this year on 15th January at Holderness Vintage Rally. Held
at the local nurseries at Keyingham the event attracted a large number of
both exhibits and public. The displays included 4 organs, cars, bikes,
tractors, models and numerous displays. There was also an auction and
plenty of trade stands. The weather was also kind and it stayed fine. |
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