This morning I went to an excellent talk and demonstration by Simon Lindley, the City Organist for Leeds. It was held on the Leeds Town Hall organ, and it was very instructive, entertaining and fascinating. They've recently had a new pedalboard installed - I don't know what the standard size of a pedalboard is but this one was around 2.5 octaves, and his feet were paddling away up and down the board like a duck under the water

It lasted just over 1.5 hours and as they're given fairly regularly, I can thoroughly recommend it. The next one is on 19 February if anyone is interested. I might go again because I couldn't stay to go round the back of the pipes but I'd like to do that another time.

It still beats me how anyone can not only play several keyboards and read 3 staves, whilst pulling out different stops at the same time, but also play keys with both feet as well

........... and be expected to discuss next week's hymns whilst playing a voluntary.

Sounds like an interesting event, and the instruments at many town halls really are magnificent. Thanks for sharing with us.

SB

That sounds fun - what time do these talks usually start?

Indeed!




This one started at 10.30 and I imagine they start at a regular time. It was due to finish at noon but it was more like 12.15 when Simon finished talking and playing, and then those who wanted to could go and see the pipes at the back. I had to leave unfortunately but I'd like to see the pipes next time. There were about 20-30 people there and we were all able to sit on the stage behind Simon at the console so we had a close up view of what he was doing. He was very amenable about people asking questions at the end as well, and I got the impression he would have been happy chatting about organs for as long as we wanted

Simon is one of my former teachers, and an excellent teacher and all round evangelist for the organ he is. Not enough people are aware of the extraordinary work he has done at Leeds Parish Church for over 35 years now. Keeping the choir and music going has been at times, almost a one man mission, and with no choir school, and actually, now hardly any schools nearby, the way he has kept the boys going is remarkable. If one had any power in the New Years' Honours list, at least an MBE should be on its way (along with a knighthood for Francis Jackson!).

I've only had one experience of someone getting an MBE and it was awarded because the company he worked for had been very successful and had won various awards for export etc. The company was asked to nominate somebody and this person was chosen. I'm not sure who would nominate Simon Lindley, but Lord Harewood doubtless knows him quite well and could have a word with his cousin...

The only recent examples I know about of organists being knighted are: Sir Philip Ledger, Sir David Lumsden and the late Sir George Thalben-Ball. Gillian Weir was made a Dame.

Anyone may nominate a person for a national honour. The forms may be down-loaded from the Cabinet Office Website:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentciti...ystem/index.htm

You will have gathered that all the efforts to secure a knighthood for Dr Francis Jackson have been unsuccessful.

Barry Williams

"You will have gathered that all the efforts to secure a knighthood for Dr Francis Jackson have been unsuccessful."

Excuse my ignorance on all matters honours, but why is this so? What else would he, or anyone in such a position, need to do to get that (in my opinion greatly deserved) knighthood?

The process for these things is, understandably, confidential. Moreover, it is excluded, by statute, from the Freedom of Information Act.

There is no way of knowing.

Barry Williams

I suppose you would need to be a musical luminary of such ticket-shifting status as Sir P McCartney and E.John.

Yeuk.