Southern Counties Organ Festival, Andover, 14/15th June 2008
Alan Roberts, organiser of Southern Counties is on the look out for some more organs to attend, plus visitors of the event too... The Southern Counties Organ Festival is happening on the 14th and 15th June this year, with Friday the 13th as arrival night for those travelling distances. It will be situated at The Museum of Army Flying, Middle Wallop, near Andover, where, as the name suggests, there is a comprehensive collection of aviation artefacts from the army. Entries for organ exhibits are welcomed (to the address below please), asare visitors to the event. Entry is free, but of course, the museum charge if you want to go in there. On the Saturday evening, we will be having a buffet in a large tent, priced at £5 per head, so if you want food please let me know asap, as the order has to go in soon. Caravans / tents etc can be parked behind your exhibit, so you won't be away from them. IF space permits, casual camping for overnight visitors will be permitted on a strictly first-come-first-served basis. For all enquiries please conact me as follows: e-mail: mr.gavioli1@virgin.net Mobile: 07866055207 Home phone: 01380 830177 (no answering service available on this number)

What a pity this event coincides with the Waldkirch Organ Festival, which we as a family are attending. John

I agree with John, what a shame it clashes with the Waldkirch festival which only takes place every three years so I know a great many people who are planning to go to Waldkirch, myself included. Whilst it is almost impossible to arrange an event anytime in the summer months which does not clash with something else, it really is a shame that an event specifically about organs (which are not that common) has been arranged to take place on the same weekend as what is probably the biggest and certainly best known event of its kind in Europe if not the World. Is there any opportunity to re schedule (Southern Counties that is not Waldkirch!)? Paul

again from Alan Roberts, organiser of SCOF... Re the comments made on this forum about the clash in dates of the Southern Counties Organ Festival and Waldkirch: Last year, as many of you will be aware, SCOF was held at Exbury House and Gardens, an idyllic location by any standards. Despite assurances by the management, some of the staff complained bitterly about the ‘noise’ even though we’d been careful to stagger playing between adjacent organs and had been conscious of the needs of others visiting. As a consequence, the management told me that they would like the event to be much smaller for ’08, something that I was not prepared to do. So, another venue had to be found, and The Museum of Army Flying at Middle Wallop in Hampshire was suggested, as being an active airbase we could, in effect, make as much noise as we like! The management were keen to take us into their programme of events, BUT, and here is the crunch, the weekend of June 14th and 15th was the only one available.........well, the only one available where I could guarantee a selection of organs due to their owners’ previous commitments. Yes, it does unfortunately coincide with Waldkirch; but think of this: Waldkirch is once every three years. SCOF happens every year. So, for 2009 and 2010, you all have no excuses for not coming! To those of you travelling to Germany, have a wonderful time, ‘cos we’re going to! Kindest Regards to you all, Alan Roberts, Organiser, SCOF.

I'll have to book that date for next year, then :-) BTW: How about persuading Alan Roberts to join the forum, James. He'll be able to post his own messages then. Regards, John

Any one from iMOD going? I will be on my way down Friday, hope the weather holds out for us. 8) should be a good weekend. :lol: