February 2024 Newsletter
Dear NDOA member,
There are a number of things to report on in this issue.
AGM
The Association’s Annual General Meeting takes place at St. John’s on the afternoon of Saturday 24th February. Please reserve this date - further details and documents will be sent out at the weekend.
David Reynolds RIP
It is with great sadness that we have to report the death of David Reynolds, a past president of the Association. Rosemary has kindly put together a tribute which is below this Newsletter.
Olivier Latry Recital
As many of you will be aware, the renowned French organist Olivier Latry will be performing at Winchester Cathedral on Saturday 27 April to mark the organ’s restoration. Tickets can be purchased via the Cathedral website: https://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/event/organ-concert-olivier-latry/
We thought it might be a good opportunity for members of NDOA to get together. If you are buying tickets and would be interested in meeting up beforehand or share transport, please contact me.
Subscriptions
Thank you to all who have already paid their subscription for this year. If you haven’t, details for payment are here.
London Organ Day
This year’s London Organ Day takes place on Saturday 2 March. It will showcase the recently installed four-manual Skrabl organ at Our Lady of Victories, Kensington. Details can be found on the IAO website: https://iao.org.uk/London-organ-day/
IAO Council Meeting
A summary of the recent IAO Council meeting is here.
Recitals
Tuesday 6 February, 8pm - St. Lawrence Church, Alton.
Recital by John Challenger (Salisbury Cathedral).
Refreshments available from 7.30pm. Admission £10, or season membership ticket £60. Concessionary rates for students. https://altonorgansociety.co.uk
Thursday 8 February, 1.10pm - St. Nicolas Church, Newbury.
Lunchtime recital by Gillian Blythman (Thatcham).
Admission free. Retiring collection.
Monday 4 March, 1pm - Reading Town Hall.
Recital by Katelyn Emerson (Boston, USA).
Tickets £5 in advance, or £6 on the door. All payments must be made using a credit or debit card. For programme and to book, visit the Concert Hall website.
Finally, I have updated the e-mail address list to include recent membership changes. Hopefully, it is correct!
Best wishes,
Christopher
Dear NDOA member,
There are a number of things to report on in this issue.
AGM
The Association’s Annual General Meeting takes place at St. John’s on the afternoon of Saturday 24th February. Please reserve this date - further details and documents will be sent out at the weekend.
David Reynolds RIP
It is with great sadness that we have to report the death of David Reynolds, a past president of the Association. Rosemary has kindly put together a tribute which is below this Newsletter.
Olivier Latry Recital
As many of you will be aware, the renowned French organist Olivier Latry will be performing at Winchester Cathedral on Saturday 27 April to mark the organ’s restoration. Tickets can be purchased via the Cathedral website: https://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/event/organ-concert-olivier-latry/
We thought it might be a good opportunity for members of NDOA to get together. If you are buying tickets and would be interested in meeting up beforehand or share transport, please contact me.
Subscriptions
Thank you to all who have already paid their subscription for this year. If you haven’t, details for payment are here.
London Organ Day
This year’s London Organ Day takes place on Saturday 2 March. It will showcase the recently installed four-manual Skrabl organ at Our Lady of Victories, Kensington. Details can be found on the IAO website: https://iao.org.uk/London-organ-day/
IAO Council Meeting
A summary of the recent IAO Council meeting is here.
Recitals
Tuesday 6 February, 8pm - St. Lawrence Church, Alton.
Recital by John Challenger (Salisbury Cathedral).
Refreshments available from 7.30pm. Admission £10, or season membership ticket £60. Concessionary rates for students. https://altonorgansociety.co.uk
Thursday 8 February, 1.10pm - St. Nicolas Church, Newbury.
Lunchtime recital by Gillian Blythman (Thatcham).
Admission free. Retiring collection.
Monday 4 March, 1pm - Reading Town Hall.
Recital by Katelyn Emerson (Boston, USA).
Tickets £5 in advance, or £6 on the door. All payments must be made using a credit or debit card. For programme and to book, visit the Concert Hall website.
Finally, I have updated the e-mail address list to include recent membership changes. Hopefully, it is correct!
Best wishes,
Christopher
David Reynolds RIP (28.11.36-6.12.23)
David was well known as a musician in the Newbury area, having been Head of Music at Shaw House School, Director of Music at Cheam School and Organist and Choirmaster at St. Nicolas Church. He also became Chairman of Newbury & District Organists’ Association during what was to be his last 10 years or so in Newbury before he and his wife Christine moved to Devon to be near family. The longstanding members of NDOA will remember AGMs at their home in Speen and being entertained by David’s garden railway. As a model engineer he spent hours with his collection of Gauge 1 steam engines, completely forgetting about meals.
At St. Nicolas David spent much time trying to keep the ailing pipe organ going with his organ building skills – he was apprenticed to a company of Pipe Organ Builders, E. Wragg & Son of Nottingham, at the beginning of his career when he left Grammar School at the age of 16. We know that he was very honoured to be made a Life Member of NDOA after his move to Devon. We are deeply grateful to Christine for forwarding her tribute to David that she read at his Memorial Service on 3.1.24. Our sincere condolences go to her and the family at this time of great loss but with the knowledge that David was well-loved, much appreciated and admired in Newbury.
Rosemary Evans
David was well known as a musician in the Newbury area, having been Head of Music at Shaw House School, Director of Music at Cheam School and Organist and Choirmaster at St. Nicolas Church. He also became Chairman of Newbury & District Organists’ Association during what was to be his last 10 years or so in Newbury before he and his wife Christine moved to Devon to be near family. The longstanding members of NDOA will remember AGMs at their home in Speen and being entertained by David’s garden railway. As a model engineer he spent hours with his collection of Gauge 1 steam engines, completely forgetting about meals.
At St. Nicolas David spent much time trying to keep the ailing pipe organ going with his organ building skills – he was apprenticed to a company of Pipe Organ Builders, E. Wragg & Son of Nottingham, at the beginning of his career when he left Grammar School at the age of 16. We know that he was very honoured to be made a Life Member of NDOA after his move to Devon. We are deeply grateful to Christine for forwarding her tribute to David that she read at his Memorial Service on 3.1.24. Our sincere condolences go to her and the family at this time of great loss but with the knowledge that David was well-loved, much appreciated and admired in Newbury.
Rosemary Evans