St Andrews Hall, Glencrutchery Road, Douglas

First and Third Tuesday in each month

7.30 pm

£5.00

£1.50

01624- 843695 ... Frances

In 1972 a number of enthusiastic organ players got together to form what was then known as the Isle of Man Branch of the Hammond Organ Society.  In those days the meetings comprised mainly club nights where, naturally, we had Hammond Organs.   We were ably assisted by the then well-known music shop, Rushworths of Liverpool, who organised our first concert with Stanley King playing a Hammond C3 with Leslie tone cabinet.  From then on we organised our own concerts, the most successful in the early days being that with Robin Richmond playing a Hammond Concorde, owned by founder member Peter Norris.

As has happened with similar societies, we found it necessary to keep up with the times by changing the name of the society, thus embracing all types of electronic organs then available.

Due to our location here in the Isle of Man we have found in the past that it was expensive to get visiting organists here and also we had at times to cover two nights accommodation as well as the cost of travel.  Recently, things have improved as regards travel costs and timings, thus reducing the overnight stays to a single night with more flights and sailings being available and at more acceptable costs.  Nevertheless, we find that we would be unable to risk putting on more than four concerts each year.  Our club Nights are therefore mainly put on with our members doing their own thing on our club organ, which is the latest in home organs from Yamaha, the AR80. 

Members also bring along their own keyboards and join in the fun.  During several Club Nights we devote the first half of the evening to Speciality Nights.  For example, on one night for the first half we have a Musical Quiz.  Another night we will listen to CDs, Cassettes and LPs of music of each member's choice, thus giving the non-players a chance to give some input to our meeting.  For another evening, by way of diversion, we invite Local Artistes to play or sing for us.  

On several evenings we invite members to put on his or her own speciality evening.  At Christmas time, of course, we have our Christmas Dinner Evening.

Our normal Club Nights are held in the St. Andrews Hall, Glencrutchery Road, Douglas.  This is a modern hall, which has recently been refurbished.  It is very well appointed and has comfortable seating, not normally to be found in Church Halls!  The Club Nights are held on the first and third Tuesdays in each month throughout the year.  The concerts are usually booked depending on the availability of the artiste and that of the large hall at the church.  

We held our 30th Anniversary Concert on the 5th February 2002, at the Hilton Hotel, Douglas. Howard Beaumont played our Yamaha AR80 Organ and also the Yamaha CVP 207 piano. It was a great success with 170 guests and members enjoying a wonderful performance from Howard and also from local singer Michelle Grogan who, in 2000, was voted 'BBC Young Chorister of the Year'.  The photograph shows our former Chairman, Alan Moore, cutting the cake with our guest of honour, a local Manx Radio presenter, Geraldine Jamieson, who hosts her own Guest Celebrity Programme every week.  In fact she recently did an interview with Len Rawle when he was here for a concert for our Society.

Membership of our Society at present stands at 40.  In addition, we have what we fondly call "Friends of the Society".  These are either non-players or those who actually play but prefer not to be members of any club.  Without these Friends we would not be able to put on regular concerts.  Their regular support at concerts is invaluable.  They have all agreed to have their names added to our list of names and addresses for recipients of our Concert Newsletters.  Visitors to our Island also attend our concerts.  Only recently at our concert featuring Len Rawle we were joined by five delightful ladies from Sheffield, who had learned of the event from the Isle of Man Department of Tourism.
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These gentlemen and lady comprise our present committee. Our Chairman (Geoffrey Quine) and Secretary (Frances Thorp) are seated in front of the organ and the committee (behind the organ) are from left to right

Max Evans and Ken Errington, (both founder members), Bob Corrin (Treasurer) and Bob Marsden.  As well as being a founder member, Max is also the only member to have served continuously on the Committee - no mean achievement! 

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