Concert to launch Ramsbury's Holy Cross organ project

Marlborough College organist Ian Crabbe and the Bella Voce Choir will present a concert of English music with a jubilee theme.
The programme begins at 7.30pm in the church and reserved tickets cost £15, unreserved £10, with free admission for under 16s.
To reserve tickets, email Carol Howard on carolhoward07@gmail.com or telephone Frances Lofthouse on 01488 682 921.
The event marks the launch of an ambitious, £120,000 project to restore an iconic, 200-year-old organ.
The project is organised by Ramsbury villagers and the congregation at Holy Cross Church.
Parishioner Frances Lofthouse said: ”The organ has provided wonderful music over the years but is in need of some ‘TLC.’”
To get the ball rolling, a summer-long programme of events has been prepared.
The organ was built around 1812 for use in Crowood House in Ramsbury and was gifted to the church, a Grade One listed building, in1836.
It has been overhauled three occasions since then, the last time in 1981.
However, some of the restoration work was unsatisfactory - in particular, the electric pedal action is faulty, several stops are very stiff and almost impossible to use and there is serious damage to some of the pipes.
A report by an independent consultant recommended the organ be restored, keeping as close as possible to the original workmanship, and that the Gothic casework be enhanced.
The diocese apporoved the plans and the work has been entrusted to highly respected organ builders Nicholson of Malvern, who will restore the organ to mechanical pedal action, restore the flute pipes, revoice and repair the reed stops, restore and repair the casework, gild the outer pipes, create a new blower and clean and overhaul all the pipes and inner workings.
It is hoped that the project will be completed by 2015.
Parishioners are being encouraged to support the project by sponsoring one of the 1,000 pipes, which vary in length from 2ft to 16ft, from £30 for a single pipe to £1,500 for a whole rack.
Alternatively, donations can be made and all sponsors and donors will receive a certificate of acknowledgement stating which pipes have been assigned to them and names and dedications will be recorded in a special book for posterity.
Donations can be sent to Ramsbury Organ Project c/o Whitton Team Office, Church Room, Back Lane, Ramsbury, Wilts SN8 2QH.
For more information, or for sponsorship and donation forms, email flofthouse@gmail.com or carolhoward07@gmail.com
Alternatively, telephone 01488 682 921.