Hello all. I was surprised to find this one hadn't already been mentioned - perhaps because the grim tale is all too familiar. 1929 H&H, recitaled upon by the likes of Dupré and Germani, 4/66ss. Barely maintained since 1970 or so. Now effectively unplayable, despite a small amount of patching-up performed in the late 1990s. From what I've heard the hall faces a somewhat uncertain future too.
http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N04108 (http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N04108)
Anyway, things have stagnated long enough - time to test the power of social networking! PLEASE 'like' this page, which I have created: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-the-Newcastle-City-Hall-Organ/272899419467146 (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-the-Newcastle-City-Hall-Organ/272899419467146)
Three forum members have already joined - thanks, Pierre, Eric and Sean!
Hopefully we can put pressure on the City Council and achieve something. We could perhaps attempt to act as a supporters' society, helping run fundraising events (although I realise I'm seriously out-of-area). One thing is for certain: the woeful neglect suffered by this landmark instrument cannot and will not be allowed to continue. Accept no defeat!
Edit: in addition to updating the count of forum members joined, I have also been informed that a bid for Heritage Lottery Fund support for the restoration of the hall (including the organ) has been submitted very recently. We shall see...
"Liked" and "shared"... 8) ;)
Eric
KB7DQH