The Wesley Centre in Malton
David Liddle, one of Britain’s most celebrated concert organists and composers, is backing the Wesley Centre’s restoration of its historic Forster & Andrews pipe organ.
The large pipe organ is currently being meticulously restored and rebuilt by Henry Willis & Sons in Liverpool. Once fully restored and rebuilt, the organ will be reinstated to the Wesley Centre in Malton.
Paul Emberley, a trustee and development lead for the Wesley Centre, has been leading a dedicated team of volunteers who are helping to save the historic 1877 organ for the nation, which was at risk of export overseas or being scrapped altogether.
Paul said: “It’s incredibly fitting that David Liddle is supporting the restoration of this famous organ. Forster & Andrews were one of the great northern organ builders of their day, and this instrument was built for the concert hall of the Royal Normal College for the Blind in south London. It was the instrument on which the famed blind-from-birth Yorkshire man, organist and composer, Alfred Hollins first learned to play the organ, and on which he went on to teach other students – before becoming the global organ ‘superstar’ of his era, dubbed Alfred the Great. The organ was moved into safe storage during WW2 and was eventually installed into a Parish Church in Hailsham, East Sussex in 1955.”
David Liddle, who like Alfred Hollins is also blind said: “One is keenly aware of the distinction and importance of this Forster & Andrews organ. It had pride of place in the concert hall at Royal Normal College, Norwood, and was played by many great musicians. Hollins was perhaps the most distinguished of the blind musicians who played it, but visiting guest performers included the Frenchman Alexandre Guilmant. It is marvellous to know that this historic instrument will be heard again and will have a new lease of life at the Wesley Centre in Malton!”
The Wesley Centre has named the instrument the ‘Alfred Hollins Organ' as a lasting memorial to this gifted English organist and composer. It is calling on the Malton and wider Yorkshire community to donate to help with its restoration.
Paul said: “Alfred Hollins was the Elton John of his day; he was a global superstar. We want this fine organ to be the centrepiece of the transformed Wesley Centre in Malton. As well as being the heart beat of a vibrant community in Malton, we're partly re-purposing the Wesley Centre as a fine classical concert venue, and a place for the whole community to use; we expect that the reinstatement of such a magnificent instrument with such an outstanding provenance will also inspire young people to take up the organ. There's a dearth of young players with some estimates suggesting there are only 750 young people left in the UK that play the instrument.”
Paul added: “In effect, this historic organ will be ‘coming home’ to Yorkshire. It will have pride of place within the Wesley Centre's Grade II* listed building which is currently undergoing a £1.9m transformation, but sensitive to its heritage. Our plan is to create a ‘go to’ classical music and performance venue in the North, as well as a community hub with many new well equipped spaces available to community users at affordable rates, offices for rent, and a place for banqueting and one-day conferences, all in a unique setting. It will also have a distinctive new café for Malton’s growing population and visitor profile.
"The plans will continue to incorporate our hosting of the Ryedale Free Fridge, which attracts up to 500 visitors a week, together with drop-in sessions by Malton Town Council, Horton Housing, Malton Police, and the Ryedale District Council Community Team."
To back the appeal and to find out more about the plans for the Wesley Centre go to https://www.maltonwesleycentre.org/
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