President: Martyn Rawles, FRCO
Chairman: David Gumbley, email: Davidgumbley@msn.com
Secretary: Pam Strong 01543433368, email: Pamstrong5@aol.com
Treasurer: Pat Neville, 01543 481195
Publicity: Clive Smith, 07939 550408
Newsletter Editor: Trevor Smedley, 01543 319329, e-mail trevorsmedley@ntlworld.com

Contact

Contact the Secretary Pam Strong on 01543 433368 or e-mail Pamstrong5@aol.com

Membership benefits

Lichfield District Organists' Association (LDOA) was founded in 1926, and we are honoured to have as our President Martyn Rawles, Organist at Lichfield Cathedral. The Association was dormant from 2002 until activities were recommenced in 2007, but since then we have been very successful in attracting new members, our membership having now grown to almost 50. We currently have members from Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield, Walsall, Burton-on-Trent, various other Staffordshire towns and villages, as well as the northern suburbs of Birmingham.

The Association welcomes all those with an interest in the organ, its construction and its music, whether or not they play the instrument themselves. Our activities include our AGM, approximately bi-monthly visits to hear and play local organs from small instruments in rural churches to large instruments in local cathedrals and town halls, visits to organ builders, organ recitals by members, and an annual dinner.

Members also receive a bi-monthly newsletter, which covers details of recent visits and recitals, LDOA forthcoming events, other forthcoming organ recitals/events in the local area, features on organs in the local area, IAO news/events, members' news, as well as interesting articles on organs and organ music submitted by our members. The Association is also a good forum for contacts for members willing to deputise from time to time for church services and weddings etc.

Our Association is affiliated to the Incorporated Association of Organists. This enables our members to participate in all IAO activities, and entitles them to all the benefits and services provided by the IAO, as well as a reduced subscription rate for the IAO magazine Organists' Review.

How to join

Contact the Secretary Pam Strong on 01543 433368 or e-mail Pamstrong5@aol.com . The 2011 Subscription is £11 for individuals, £16.50 for joint membership, and free for students in full time education.

2010 visits & events

Visit to Walsall Town Hall, hosted by Walsall Borough Organist and honorary member Peter Morris, to hear and play the magnificent 1908 Nicholson & Lord 4 manual 73 stop organ. Then on to St Matthew's Church, Walsall, to play the 4 manual 74 stop organ originally built by Samuel Green in 1773.

Wednesday 3rd February 2010

Our well attended Annual Dinner held at The Old School House Restaurant, Weeford, and much enjoyed by all.

Saturday 6th March 2010

Visit hosted by our member Mervin Jones to Darlaston Town Hall to play the virtually unaltered 1903 3 manual 33 stop Binns organ. Then to Darlaston Parish Church of St Lawrence to play the 3 manual 32 stop organ.

Saturday 1st May 2010

Visit hosted by Stephen Alliss to The Guild Church of St Mary, Lichfield, to play the newly restored 1875 3 manual Nicholson & Lord organ. Our 2010 AGM was combined with this visit.

Wednesday 16th June 2010

Visit hosted by Cathy and Ben Lamb, Joint Directors of Music at Lichfield Cathedral, to see and play the Hauptwerk System organ built by Ben installed in their home.

Wednesday 30th June 2010

Vist to Emmanuel Church, Wylde Green. Short talk by Richard Mason, Director of Music, demonstration of the organ by organ scholar Richard Dawson, and the opportunity for members to play their splendid 4 manual Willis organ.

Saturday 11th September 2010

Visit to St Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton. Visit hosted by Director of Music and honorary member Peter Morris, with short talk, demonstration and opportunity to play the 3 manual 39 stop 1860 Father Willis organ. Then on to visit St John's-in-the-Square, Wolverhampton. Short talk by organist Hugh Smith, and opportunity to play the recently restored historic 3 manual Renatus Harris organ from 1684.

Saturday 23rd October 2010

Visit to Armitage Parish Church, hosted by Rev David Thomas for talk and opportunity to play the historic 1789 Samuel Green 3 manual organ, ex Lichfield Cathedral. Then on to Hawkesyard Priory to play the 3 manual 31 stop organ, the casework and some pipework of which had its origins in a 'Father' Smith organ removed from Eton College in 1852.

2011 visits & events

Visit to St Michael's Church Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield, hosted by our member Chris Stormont, FRCO. Talk on the 2 manual Harrison & Harrison organ, Baroque articulation and playing of Bach Trio Sonata in G Major. Opportunity for members to play.

Saturday 26th February 2011

Annual Dinner at The Old School House Restaurant, Weeford.

Saturday 5th March 2011

Visit hosted by our member Chris Greenhalgh to Alrewas Parish Church, to play the 2 manual Brindley & Foster organ.

Saturday 9th April 2011

Visit hosted by our Chairman David Gumbley to St Peter's Church, Maney, Sutton Coldfield, for our 2011 AGM followed by demonstration of the 3 manual Nicholson organ, with opportunity for members to play.

Friday 24th June 2011

President's Evening at Lichfield Cathedral, hosted by our President and Lichfield Cathedral Organist Martyn Rawles. Evensong/Open Choir Practice and opportunity for members to play the magnificent 4 manual Hill organ, pictured below.

Saturday 15th October 2011 (provisional)

Visit to Liverpool to attend the 85th Anniversary Recital by Organist Titulaire Prof Ian Tracey of the completion of the magnificent 5 manual Willis organ in Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral. Looking to also visit at least one other Liverpool venue/organ.

Saturday 22nd October 2011

Visit to organ builder Peter Collins' factory at Melton Mowbray, and then to Oakham School Chapel to see and play the 3 manual 33 stop Peter Collins organ installed in 1992.

Past Newsletters

The Hill Organ of Lichfield Cathedral, where our President Martyn Rawles is Organist.