Saturday, April 6 – what an extravaganza. The theatre at Rye College was packed with an enthusiastic, supportive crowd of Wurlitzer devotees.
Richard Moore, the mastermind of the 100th anniversary concert for this historic instrument, was first seen marshalling the traffic, including the coaches in the car park, sporting a very jazzy waistcoat. He welcomed his VIP guests including the Lord-Lieutenant for East Sussex, Andrew Blackman CStJ, the Mayor Andy Stuart and Lady Mayoress Niki Stuart amongst others.
After the concert, which was a resounding success, Richard announced: “I am delighted to let you all know that Sunday’s celebration raised £1,914.35 for the Rye Wurlitzer Academy. This is an amazing result. Thanks to our quite superb team and our marvellous supporters for achieving this fantastic amount as well as an afternoon of high-quality musical entertainment. It was a special day with special memories: thank you all.”
The audience enjoyed all the acts – organists Michael Woolridge and Cameron Lloyd, vocalist Peter Chapman, and ventriloquist Steve Hewlett. At the interval a sumptuous afternoon cream tea was served in the school’s gym masterminded by Clare Gladwish and her team of volunteers. A special mention should go to Richard’s grandchildren, Imogen and Max, who helped in many ways throughout the afternoon including making sure that everyone had a programme.
The Lord-Lieutenant enjoyed the event immensely. “I was delighted to be at Rye College to help celebrate the one hundredth birthday of the Rye Wurlitzer – how fortunate we are to have this splendid instrument here in East Sussex. The concert and cream tea were hugely enjoyable, and it was especially good to learn more about the work the Rye Wurlitzer Academy does to help local young people on their way to careers in the arts.”
Sandra Lanigan, who was in the audience, explains why she loves these events. “It was Anne Wood who first took John and I along when we moved here eleven years ago and immediately we were hooked. We loved the idea of sitting round a table and enjoying the music and meeting new people. In due course others came too, notably St Mary’s Knitting Group members. It became a regular thing for us to bring a box or two of recycled jam jars which Richard needed to make more jam. Richard would turn up occasionally at our Monday meeting to give us special jars of jam or marmalade to say thank you! When Mary Cooper, the American member of our group, first came with us to the annual patriotic Prom Concert waving an American flag, Richard instantly renamed us the St. Mary’s International Knitting Group. She now times her annual visit to Rye to include attendance at this particular concert. Everyone enjoys opportunities to sing along, and it is great to see the young people performing, too. These are wonderful social occasions and evenings to which we all look forward.”
Helen and Arnold Hobson were at the concert as a treat for Arnold’s birthday. It was a present from their son.
Jon Anton was in the audience with his daughter Louise. “My interest in theatre / cinema organs began in 1961, when the local Lyric Cinema in Wellingborough, Northants closed, and the organ was bought by my local Grammar School and reinstalled in our school hall. It was a project for mainly the sixteen-year-olds, under the supervision of an expert and our very keen music teacher.
“I’ve lived on the Kent Coast now for sixty-four years and in Lydd for the last twenty-five. I have visited the Wurlitzer Concerts and shows many times. I’ve known their favourite visiting organist John Mann for a long time. Michael Wooldridge is also a good friend, as he’s also the editor of Piers Magazine (Seaside Pier Preservation Society) of which I’ve been a member for many years. I’ve also been in showbusiness all my life… and all of these special variety shows have acts I know very well. Richard Moore is an amazing person, bringing the organ back to life and organising all these wonderful shows and concerts.
“My late father owned and restored a fabulous Gavioli fairground organ built in 1903. This needed constant attention as much as the Wurlitzer in Rye does. The Gavoli was built for a fairground bioscope cinematograph show, which was the forerunner of permanent cinemas.”
It was a truly uplifting afternoon and everyone left with a big smile, well done Richard Moore B.E.M (best ever marmalade, best ever master of ceremonies) just the best ever.
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Jon Anton , Ron and Louise .