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Medway Organ Club

Telephone Number :  01474 812466

Email address :  g4nxq@aol.com

Contact name :  Anne Millner

Venue address : St. Paul's Church, ME8 9PN

About Medway Organ Club

The Medway Organ Club was founded in 1969 by John Edwards and Jim Layzell of Medway Organs, together with a group of local organ enthusiasts. As we are celebrating our Fortieth Anniversary this year (2009) we are making our June 8th. meeting "Founder's Night " starring Jim Layzell as our guest artist along with founder member Doug Morgan playing the pre-amble. The Club was started at "The Ash Tree Public House" in the heart of Chatham and after a number of moves, both large and small, are now based at the Parkwood Community Centre, Rainham, Kent. ME8 9PN.

The Medway Club is open to anyone who enjoys listening to music of all types. We have a professional organist every month and the evening commences at 7.00 pm with one of our members/guests playing a pre-amble on either the club organ (Elka EP12) or their own organ/keyboard.

Over the past year the Club has been well attended, the organists seem to be getting younger unlike the audience, but we are all young at heart. During last year we purchased a projector and camera. which has enabled us to get a closer view of the player's digital dexterity. This has been very popular and is much better than the traditional large mirror, which sometimes gave the impression that the melody was being played with the left hand.

Guests are made welcome at our meetings and members of other clubs often visit us.

As well as the excellent selection of professional musicians booked to play for us; a club member is invited to play a pre-amble for half an hour before the concert. We have a regular number of members who do this, but are always looking around for other likely candidates. Members can use the club's Elka organ or bring their own instrument. Two of our members also play the accordion and this usually has a very lively theme and a change from either the keyboard or organ.

This year the club celebrated its 40th Anniversary with our Vice President, Jim Layzell, playing for us.  Jim took everyone back to 1969 when the club was formed with annecdotes about the formation of the club, the trials and tribulations that incured and music from that time.  Doug Morgan, one of the members who joined the club shortly after its formation, played the preamble.  This evening was enjoyed by all who attended, both "old" members and those who have joined since.  Please see the photo's in our gallery.

 This coming year is going to be one of change.  We are having to move from our venue as it is being refurbished and will be in temporary accommodation for about a year.  We have obtained the use of the St. Paul's Church Centre, which happends to be on the same site as the Parkwood Community Centre, so for any visitors who use the dreaded "sat-nav" the same postcode will still place you in the same area. 

The club usually meets on the second Monday of each month at 7.00pm for 7.30pm.

Subscription: £10.00 full members, £8.00 senior citizen

Members admission: £2.50

Visitors admission: £3.50

Our Venue

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