Fife Electronic Organ Society

Venue:

The Glenwood Centre, Glenwood High School, South Parks Road, Glenrothes, Fife ... Click here for map to see our whereabouts

Usual meeting day:

Wednesday

Start time:

7.15 pm

Subscription rate:

Adults £5.00 ... junior members £1.00. 

Members admission:

£2.00 ... free for junior members

Visitors:

£4.00 and Junior visitors  50p

Contact name:

Eleanor Hutchison

Tel:

01592-651540

Email:

chairperson@fifeelectronicorgansociety.org.uk
bookingsecretary@fifeelectronicorgansociety.org.uk

Bob McInnes

Bob McInnes


Alongside are the faces of our hard-working Committee in business together for some time and likely to remain so - we hope!


Fife Electronic Organ Society was originally named The Hammond Organ Society, and had its home base in Kirkcaldy.  It was started in the mid-sixties by a small group of enthusiasts who met on a regular basis to enjoy the wonderful sounds produced by instruments which at that time were considered to be in a league of their own.

At that time all Society meetings were held in local hotels with Vice-President, Bill McIntosh, owner of Edinburgh Organ Studio, providing and transporting the organs to Kirkcaldy. This continued for many years, during which time Society members were entertained by such international stars as Hubert Selby, George Blackmore and Keith Beckingham.  With the arrival of other organ manufacturers on the scene it was deemed necessary to change the Society's name to Kirkcaldy and District Organ Society rather than appearing to be associated with one manufacturer.

Although the Society survived throughout the seventies, membership was low compared with today's organisation.  In 1982 the Society was fortunate to enlist the help of new member, George Wilson, who had a wealth of experience as a committee member of a large organ society in the Midlands, having a number of contacts who played on the organ cicuit at that time.  It was decided by the then committtee that if the Society was going to survive it had to be more ambitious and attract more members by engaging first class organists.  It was decided to change the name again to its current title and also to move venue to The Lomond Centre, Glenrothes.  The Society also managed to get on a sound financial footing by running a prize draw with an organ being the first prize, a fair proportion of the proceeds going to benefit a number of local charities.  This really was the turning point in terms of success for the Society with membership numbers increasing rapidly each year.  As the membership increased, so the facilities at The Lomond Centre were outgrown.   After much investigation it was decided to move to The Glenwood Centre at Glenwood High School, Glenrothes which appeared to be ideal for the Society's requirements, having a proper auditorium and a stage with theatre style lighting, which was a vast improvement on some of the previous venues. 

The aims and objectives of Fife Electronic Organ Society are to "promote and encourage interest in organ music and the appreciation thereof".   We hope we achieve this by engaging top class artistes to entertain our members and many visitors alike and cultivating friendships between people who have a common interest in listening to and playing "middle of the road music" on electronic organ.

The Society with a current membership of nearly 300 people is now reputed to be one of the biggest in the United Kingdom and become well known by the organists on the circuit.  As a Society we work closely with the Stirling Keyboard and Organ Club, endeavouring to book jointly as many as six artistes each season.  We also have close links with the Dumfries Society and the relatively new society in Dunbar.  This arrangement makes it more economical for all concerned and the bonus to members that if you like what you hear in Glenrothes on the Wednesday evening, you could enjoy a repeat performance in Stirling on the Thursday!

The Society has grown to a size and had remarkable success which we could only dream of twenty years ago.  This is due to the tremendous efforts made by many individuals too many to mention, with their input in making the Society the successful organisation it is today.  All visitors are offered a warm welcome.


Maureen McInnes

Maureen McInnes

 Ian Thomson

Ian Thomson

George Taylor

George Taylor

  Nicola Hutchison

Nicola Hutchison

Ann Dick

Ann Dick

Andrew Thomson

Andrew Thomson

Eleanor Hutchison

Eleanor Hutchison


Mary Cook

Mary Cook

Margaret Foster

PROGRAMME

2006

EVENT

18th January

PETE SHAW

 

15th February

BRETT WALES

Wersi Scala

15th March

PHIL BROWN

Bohm 400CT

19th April

KERRY STANTON

Yamaha EL90

20th September

THE LONGHAWN TRIO

Yamaha instruments

18th October

MICHAEL McANENY

Yamaha EL90

1st November

Members playing evening

 

15th November

CHRIS POWELL

Roland AT80SL

6th December

SIMON SMITH

Yamaha EL900

2007

EVENT

17th January

TIM FLINT

Roland AT90SL

14th February

ANDREW NIX

Roland AT80SL

14th March

CHRIS STANBURY

Yamaha Stagea

18th April

DAVE SMITH

Roland Atelier

6th June

Members playing evening

 

 

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