Welcome

With a family name that is synonymous with the very heart of the organ scene here and overseas, Len Rawle has the benefit of a family steeped in the tradition of theatre organ preservation. More than 40 Theatre organs have passed through the 'saving' hands of the Rawle's! He maintains the Wurlitzers at Kilburn and Woking and is heads up a £40,000 project which raised the long entombed Granada Tooting Wurlitzer in South London.
Born in Tonypandy South Wales in 1938, Len's classical training, starting at age 4, came from the London College of Music in Cardiff. Later his studies transferred to London where he also came into contact with many leading organists. He was also fortunate in having the UK 's first residence Wurlitzer from the Granada Wandsworth Road London, in the family home. Eventually he purchased the famous 4 manual Wurlitzer of the Empire Theatre, Leicester Square , which became the centrepiece of his own, self-built home at Chorleywood. Described by many, as the finest sounding residence Wurlitzer in the World, he has recorded, broadcast and televised this, the largest Wurlitzer in Europe, many times. Two particular highlights, were, appearing on the very first 'The Organist Entertains' Programme (plus many subsequent ones) also in the much celebrated and often repeated Sir John Betjamin BBC T.V. documentary 'Metroland'. Len has given numerous concerts and 'workshop sessions' in the USA , Australia and Europe . One rather special ‘Educational programme’ for children in Buffalo USA saw no less than 69 busloads arrive at the Spectacular Shaes Theatre. ‘Len’s finest Hour’ comprised initiating more than 2,500 youngsters, all of whom were absorbed in a one of a kind presentation that introduced 10-15 year olds to the organ for the first time.

Len is one of those specialist artists who have never sought an engagement, being in the happy position of being kept busier than most, accepting invitations to appear around the world.

David Kirkbride

NETOA Ticket Sales Officer

3 Edendale Crescent

Howden-le-Wear

Crook

Co. Durham

DL15 8HR

Tel. 01388 762 467

NETOA Gift Vouchers

Dodging the snow and ice, we have been full of busy at the New Victoria Centre once again. More bits have been taken out of the organ (in fact all of the pipes have been removed from the Main chamber) so that we can re-arrange some of the ranks of pipework.

The reason? Well, the Dulciana rank which was added in the 2006 rebuild has proved to be very disappointing in tone (and almost inaudible) and has not added anything useful to the ensemble sound. A few months ago we had the opportunity to acquire a 1928 vintage Wurlitzer Viol d’Orchestre rank and matching Viol Celeste. These ranks have a very characteristic sound which will supplement our existing strings and enrich the overall ensemble sound, so after some quick discussions, there was no question about making the change and the pipes were soon purchased, collected and dropped off at Howden.

That was the easy bit! Next a major planning exercise was under way to decide how to re-organise the organ chamber to fit these pipes in in the correct manner, to plan the major wiring changes that would be needed and to sort out the changes that would be necessary at the console so that the organ specification would remain logical.

Soon after the Christmas concert, bits started coming out of the organ chambers and all of the stop tabs out of the console. It’s still full steam ahead as I write this and here is just a sample of what’s going on: new stop tabs, circuit boards and other parts are coming from Hesco, Uniflex and Bob Arndt in the U.S.A., Joe Marsh has been full of busy cleaning and polishing pipework and making leather gaskets, etc. for pipe chests, David and Suzanne Kirkbride are in the middle of making up new wiring harnesses, David Watmough is modifying the wind connections for the pipe chests, George Lomas is assembling the parts of two incomplete pipe chests to hold the Viol d’Orchestre and celeste, David Wright is helping me with the console modifications and Fred Thompson is getting the newsletters ready to send out and helping out with other jobs when needed. And that is just part the story!

Once the organ is up and running again we are expecting Ed. Zollman over from the U.S. to start on the tonal regulation of the pipework in April. This is positively the last major upheaval for the organ (mind you, so was the last one!)