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We are delighted that three-manual Wood organ in St Paul’s Hall, Huddersfield, features in a instructional video produced by the Royal College of Organists.
The video is intended for those who plan to take one of the college's diploma examinations, though any organist would benefit from the excellent advice it contains. It is presented by Anna Lapwood, a former organ scholar of Magdalen College, Oxford and now director of music at Pembroke College, Cambridge, who guides prospective candidates through the practical and theoretical aspects of the examinations. The three-manual, 40-stop, mechanical-action instrument was built by our firm in 1977 and has been used for many years for RCO examinations in the north of England.
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Trevor Walshaw ARCO, who has died aged 82, served the cause of music in Huddersfield for many years with quiet distinction.
His interest in music was kindled as a chorister at Huddersfield Parish Church under the organist and choirmaster A Hanley Lawrence, MusBac, FRCO, a noted recitalist from whom he was to receive organ lessons. His first post, taken in his early teens, was at Holy Trinity, South Crosland, where he was proud to preside over a fine Jardine instrument. From there he moved to St Thomas the Apostle, Longroyd Bridge, and greater responsibilities as organist and choirmaster. A calm and gentle man who was by profession an accountant, he later served as organist and choirmaster at Holy Trinity, Huddersfield, and, latterly, at Huddersfield Parish Church. Singing was a passion that Trevor shared with his wife Shirley, a fine contralto, and they gave loyal service for many years to the the Huddersfield Glee and Madrigal Society, of which Trevor was also organist, and the Huddersfield Choral Society. The funeral takes place on Wednesday, October 14 at 11am at Huddersfield Parish Church followed by committal at Huddersfield Crematorium at 12.30.
 Alan Spedding at Beverley Minster It was with great sadness that we learned of the death yesterday of the organist, composer and choral trainer, Alan Spedding MBE. Alan was born in London and studied organ and ‘cello at the Royal College of Music. He was appointed Organist and Master of the Choristers at Beverley Minster in 1967, after three years as organist of the Parish Church, Kingston upon Thames. He directed the music at Beverley with distinction for 42 years and supervised the restoration of the minster organ by Wood Pipe Organ Builders during the early 1990s when his good humour and wise counsel were always valued. A renowned recitalist, his musical interests were not confined to the organ loft. He conducted Hull Choral Union and the East Riding Choir for many years and was music master at Beverley Grammar School for 18 years. He was in demand as a musical festival adjudicator and directed many courses for the Royal School of Church Music. He also served as a council member and diploma examiner for the Royal College of Organists, whose Fellowship he held. After his retirement in 2009 he was appointed curator of the organ at Hull University from which he had received an honorary DMus in 1994 for services to music. His MBE was awarded in 2003 for the same reason. He leaves a wife, Ann, two sons and six grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Beverley Minster on April 11 at 2pm.
It was sad to learn of the death of Rodney Pearson, an organist who served his home town of Huddersfield with loyalty and skill. It was his idea to move the fine Binns organ from the redundant Linthwaite Methodist Church to the nearby Parish Church, a task entrusted to our firm.
Whether he was playing for services or accompanying one of the many choirs with which he was associated, he carried out his duties with enthusiasm and care. His larger-than-life personality will be missed. We hope you enjoy the video on our news page of the organ in the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, narrated by organist Jonathan Scott. Wood Pipe Organs has tuned and maintained this fine instrument for 15 years and it was a pleasure to have a walk-on part in the production. - David Wood.
 It was very good of the local newspaper, the Huddersfield Examiner, to run the story about the problems caused to pipe organs by the sort of low humidity we're experiencing. Not perhaps the most flattering of portraits but the bucket was a nice touch!
Visitors to Huddersfield regularly ask about the organ in Huddersfield Town Hall. As you'll see elsewhere on the site, the Father Willis is in the care of Wood Pipe Organ Builders.
It was built for an exhibition hall in Newport, South Wales, and bought for the new Huddersfield hall on the advice of Sir Walter Parratt who gave the opening recital in 1881. It has been rebuilt several times, most recently by Harrison in 1980. Thanks for your comments about the various recordings on the website. One person asked if there was a link between them. Yes, the various instruments were either built by Wood Pipe Organ Builders or rebuilt or restored by the firm.
We hope you enjoy Gordon Stewart's performance of Nicholson's Impromptu on this site. This fine organ, built in 1895 by Binns, has been restored by Wood of Huddersfield through the generosity of Michael Phipps.
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