Justin Sillman Rip

[headcase]

Readers may wish to note the recent passing of Justin Sillman.

 

He was twice an employee of HN&B, as a tuner's assistant, before pursuing a career in social work, then later assisting Frank Fowler in the Hornsey office. Later, trading under his own name, he specialised in organ hire and provided a very small sprinkling of instruments, the largest being at Turville Parish Church (of Vicar of Dibley fame).

 

A person of considerable intellect and good humour, he was certainly one of the organ world's more 'colourful' characters. Latterly he withdrew from the organ scene and pursued interests in local politics in East London.

 

He died after battling cancer of the stomach and brain.

 

H

[Guest Cynic]

Readers may wish to note the recent passing of Justin Sillman.

 

He was twice an employee of HN&B, as a tuner's assistant, before pursuing a career in social work, then later assisting Frank Fowler in the Hornsey office. Later, trading under his own name, he specialised in organ hire and provided a very small sprinkling of instruments, the largest being at Turville Parish Church (of Vicar of Dibley fame).

 

A person of considerable intellect and good humour, he was certainly one of the organ world's more 'colourful' characters. Latterly he withdrew from the organ scene and pursued interests in local politics in East London.

 

He died after battling cancer of the stomach and brain.

 

H

 

Someone will tell me if I'm right, I believe JS was mostly responsible for the (then brand new) large three-manual HN&B that went into Radley College.

[headcase]

He did indeed conceive the scheme for Radley, though the case was designed by Herbert Norman. At the time (1979/80) the conception was excellent. The execution sadly less so.

 

H

[Guest Cynic]

He did indeed conceive the scheme for Radley, though the case was designed by Herbert Norman. At the time (1979/80) the conception was excellent. The execution sadly less so.

 

H

 

My father was in the audience for the opening recital since one of my brothers was a music scholar there. If I remember his account correctly, Simon Preston admitted to the audience that it had been a struggle to get through the Reubke Sonata. [Allegedly] the mechanical key action was seriously heavy!