Colin Richell

I can't imagine what the cost of transporting will be, and I sincerely hope that our own builders also have a fine reputation for build quality, but if not why not ? I wonder if cost comes into it and that the project may be loss making but that Dobson's are looking for more business in the UK ? Colin Richell.

So, presumably there is not one single organ builder in this country who could have built an organ to the specifications of Merton College ? Very sad. Colin Richell.

I am sure that BA Flights to Paris include a snack and a hot drink, this was certainly the case on a Glasgow flight, and was much appreciated for a basically boring flight. Colin Richell

Thats very brave of you ! I hope you appreciate all the "add ons" which normally brings the cost of a ticket to the same as BA, eg £3 for a can of beer, £2.50 for a small coffee, £3 for a sandwich, baggage and credit card charges, choice of seat etc etc, sorry but its a fallacy that these airlines are really cheap, and wait until you have a complaint and want to speak to someone at the airline. Colin Richell.

I cannot believe that the ROYAL Academy of Music is considering purchasing a new organ from abroad. Are you telling me that there is not one English organ builder who could not have provided a suitable instrument for the Academy ? I think it is disgraceful that we cannot support our own manufacturing industry, and I hope that at least the English companies were asked to quote for the new instrument. The same thing has happened with the car industry which is now controlled from abroad. Is anyone else indignant about the RAM policy of not supporting the UK companies ? Colin Richell.

On Tuesday night Nigel Ogden included a piece from Thomas Trotters new recording on the RAH organ, and the organ sounded great. Colin Richell.

Sorry I just have no interest in narrow gauge railways, although I did spend many years working on the Festiniog in the very cold winters, and I do have an affection for the RH&DR. Colin Richell

The Mid Norfolk Railway is approx 10 miles in length (they actually own 17 miles of trackbed) and operates between Dereham and Wymondham where they have a connection with Network Rail to Norwich.and there is a nice church there. Facilities are very good but from memory they do not operate steam locomotives although I might be wrong.Dereham is a lovely town and you can see the unused track bed to County School. The North Norfolk railway is situated at Sheringham where the level crossing has been reinstated to connect with Network railway. Plenty of steam locos but line only about 7 miles in length. Facilities are reasonable and the town is interesting witha fairly decent beach. Sorry cannot recall another raileay in Norfolk unless you are talking about the Mid Suffolk which is only 1 mile in length. Hope that helps, the railways do have a web site. Colin Richell.

Its a breath of fresh air to learn that on this forum there are so many steam fans and that many are aware of Britannia. Yes Brunswick Green was the colour and ICI (are they still around?) very kindly donated the paint all those years ago. I will be on the West Somerset Explorer on Saturday 18th June from Paddington which was a birthday present. Colin Richell.

Many thanks for that I will do my best to save upsetting any one. Colin Richell.

Sorry I am not very good with computers. I am always asking my lodger to help when I have a problem. Please tell me what I am doing wrong, as it is obviously of immence importance that I am not perfect. Do I press "reply" or "fast reply" to answer a message ? Thanks Colin Richell ps is this ok?

We raised money for Britannia by attending traction engine rallies every weekend, but I have to say that although it is steam, I am not very enthusastic about these beasts (well they don't run on rails do they ?)but we sold hundreds of models made by Matchbox. so I should be grateful. Colin Richell.

I had always intended to visit Liverpool to see the organ but never got round to it.Perhaps one day. I do recall David Wells singing the praises of the organ and reiterating that it needed big money to complete the restoration, so good luck to them. Colin Richell.

Yes I met Henry at Ally Pally many times, what a character, probably a bit eccentric but very funny when telling his jokes. I hadn't heard from him for ages, so wondered whether he was in good health. Perhaps he was asked and declined, but nevertheless an interesting programme. Colin Richell

Today I listened to a very interesting programme on Radio 4 about the life of Father Henry Willis, and many people were interviewed about this much respected organ builder. I could not understand why the interviews did not include a member of the Willis family assuming that Henry 4 is still with us. Who else but a family member could relate information regarding his Great Grandfather ? so I felt that this ommission rather spoilt the programme, whose listeners were not even informed that the Company now had no connection with this wonderful family. For the first time I heard the St Georges Hall Organ, and I can understand David Well's enthusiasm. for this instrument. Regrettably no recordings of the AP organ were included. Did anyone else catch the programme.,and I wonder what persuaded the BBC to actually spend some time on discussing pipe organs and their builders. Colin Richell

I was involved with the purchase from BR of Britannia Pacific 70000 Britannia, and she wil be out on the main line on the 7th April for the first time for many years.and I will be proud to be on the train. I am also interested in old buses and planes (new and old). Am I a frustrated organ enthusiast ? Colin Richell

I absolutely agree, I thought Elton John was superb in his rendering, but, I thought at the time how much better it would have been had the organ been utilised as well. Wouldn't a piano and organ sound great together ? As to the wedding, I couldn't care less and I certainly will not be watching it, rather watch paint dry ! Colin Richell.

Yes how I miss the RT and Routemaster buses, not forgetting those wonderful trolleybuses, thankfully a few preserved in museums. I am very disappointed in the new RM but at least it is much better than those awful bendy buses where you can travel for free with the blessing of TFL. Colin Richell.

Are you really serious about the BR sandwich ? Colin Richell.