Robert Bowles

I thought so - but a google seach ("princess margaret wedding widor") throws up an official Westminster Abbey Library site which lists all the Royal Weddings and says:- "6 May 1960 Princess Margaret, second daughter of King George VI, to Antony Armstrong-Jones (later Earl of Snowdon). (The hymns were “Christ is made the sure foundation” and “Immortal, invisible, God only wise” and the couple left the Church to Henry Purcell’s Trumpet Tune and Airs)." Princess Anne and Capt Mark Phiilips are recorded as having left the Abbey to the Widor Toccata. Is the Abbey library wrong? I think the answer may be that at Princess Margaret's wedding the Bride and Groom left to some Purcell, and the congregation then left to the Widor. That wouldn't work in most Parish Churches because everyone would be out in the churchyard throwing confetti before the second piece started. Princess Anne omitted the Purcell and went straight into the Widor. There is a copy of the order of service for Princess Margaret for sale on e-bay (I'm not kidding!) which might contain the answer. But perhaps there's somone around reading these messages who was there and remembers - or has the service sheet in a box in the attic. e.g a Westminster Abbey or Chapel Royal chorister..... If it was Princess Margaret's wedding which established the popularity of the Widor who played it? I think it was Harry Gabb, in his capacity as organist of HM Chapel Royal, rather than as Sub Organist of St Paul's. He held both posts simultaneously, which was quite possible in those days. At routine services choirs were only conducted if the music was unaccompanied. So only one organist/conductor needed to be present.

I was booked to play for a wedding. The Vicar was slightly uncertain about the whole thing, as the couple had not been reliable in turning up for their preparation. The fees (which he had requested in advance) had not been paid. He was concerned they might just not turn up at all. Nevertheless, he and I agreed we would both turn up and see what happened. The church was empty at the appointed time, but about 20 minutes later people started turning up, and after 30 minutes the bride and bridegroom arrived (together!), with the best man and ushers. It was evident that they had all been delayed by being in the pub rather than by traffic problems. The Vicar had some serious discussions in the porch, the outcome of which was that he agreed to proceed, provided the fees were paid in cash. But they had no cash - it had all been spent in the pub. He suggested they either had a whip round amongst the congregation, or went back to the pub and borrowed what was needed. He observed that the pub must have done very nicely from their party, and since all involved were "locals" they could surely arrange something. They chose the return-to-pub option, which was ultimately (after about 45 minutes) successful. This gave me the opportunity to play every piece of music in my music case, and extemporise extensively on Adeste Fidelis ("Why are we waiting"). But I only got the standard fee. It was a shame that the organ concerned (now thankfully replaced with a transplanted Lewis) would have been streets ahead of all other candidates in the "worst organ in the world" competition.

Sorry - but these would not count. Cricket umpires do none of these things.

I have recently been involved in acquiring one complete redundant two manual instrument and the pipe-work only from another. Neither appeared on any of the redundant organ sites. One was not even on the NPOR. The other had an NPOR entry which indicated it was likely the material had already been disposed of. We found these on the grapevine, so to speak, after many years of seaching, in order to complete an Alfred Hunter and Son instrument dating from 1921 (when the firm was run by Robert Hunter) without destroying its integrity. This meant using authentic Hunter material - excellent material by other builders would not have done! Our requirements were therefore very specific - it had to be Hunter. Using volunteer labour and working at a distance at (not every) weekend it took the best part of four months to dismatle and transport the two manual instrument. We could never have done it within the time-scales commonly appearing on ebay, and might not have managed it in our case if the church's re-development proposals had not been refused planning permission. Collecting the pipes from the other instrument which were stored in the vicarage garage roof was less of a challenge. Hunter's work was to a very high standard, and when churches hadn't quite enough money, they regularly left things "prepared for" In our case the choir organ (intended as six ranks enclosed) consisted of a dulciana sitting on its own two little chests (unenclosed) on the floor at the back. There were big reeds missing elsewhere. We have been very fortunate in getting 80 per cent of what is missing. But naturally they tended to always "prepare for" the more expensive ranks, not essential to supporting congregational singing. Thus I am still on the look out for a Hunter pedal trombone and swell contra fagotto.... One further observation - as far as the CofE is concerned - I am aware (because I am on one of the Diocesan Advisory Committees - but not as organ advisor) that DAC organ advisors are pro-active, and often enable instruments to be re-deployed well before the crane with the ball and chain is ordered. To sum up, I suspect that a lot of good work in finding good homes for worthy instruments is going on without hitting the headlines. Given the reduction in number of places of worship with organs, it's inevitable that some instruments will be "broken up". So I think our scheme to use two to complete one (and perhaps produce a house organ from what's left) is a good one. I bet lots of others are doing the same thing.

At the church where I play now the preaching is excellent and I listen. As a chorister (some 45 years ago) I must also have heard many excellent sermons, but the content was, shall we say, a bit "over our heads". The answer, for those who could see the preacher, was to play cricket. Before the service one agreed with one's neighbour who would be which team, and who would bat first. From the start of the sermon, both players would observe the gestures of the preacher very closely, and interpret each one as one of the standard signals given by cricket umpires to the scorer. e.g. Arms outstreched horizontally - a wide - one run;. both arms raised towards heaven - six runs; hand moving to and fro horizontally - four runs; a hand with a finger pointing forward and waved up and down (admonishing the transgressors) - batsman out. After the service you compared (mental) notes to see if you finished up with the same score. One particular preacher, when talking about nuclear disarmament, would regularly generate a score of both teams all out for no runs - but his sermons were understandable to 11 year olds, so one could listen instead. I don't think its possible to play cricket nowadays. Reliable sound reinforcement systems have done away with that more physical declamatory style of preaching.