Update February 2010

 

Things are moving so fast that whatever I write today (25th February) will probably be out of date by the time you read it!

 

One morning the rebuilding the lower level of the case was well in progress –  and 2 hours later the upper case front was in place and it looked as though the pipes would reappear at any moment! The skill, speed and efficiency of the experts from Principal Pipe Organs has impressed everyone.

 

It is a joy to see everything shiny and burnished, ready for another 100 years of music-making. If it sounds as good as it looks we'll be delighted.

 

A lot of work has been done and it’s all the intricate things that you can’t see that take the time.  The picture shows part of the delicate work of fitting the new wires that pull down the stopper under each pipe when you press a note. This has to be done for each of the 58 keys on 2 manuals and the 30 pedal notes. It takes time and it’s got to be accurate!

 

We thought the Balcony front would be the last thing to appear, but once we realised that the scaffolding was finished with, we have expedited the fitting of the balcony. The target date for this to be done is 26th February. Even when in place, access to the Gallery will be strictly limited for obvious safety reasons.

 

We’re sorry the Chancel was disrupted by the Scaffolding on Sunday 31st January, but to have only one major disruption in a Project of this scale was actually pretty amazing. Several people took the once in a lifetime opportunity of taking photographs from the scaffolding and we hope to share some of them with you in due course. Completion Date? We don’t know, but the middle of March is being whispered.

 

John and Liz