It was a joy to be back in Kent last week – the county where I spent the first fourteen years of my working life, and met & married Anne. There were two of my current organ projects to visit. The first was St Mary Platt, where an organ splendidly rebuilt to my scheme by HN&B in 1983 has just been overhauled and electrically updated by Colin Jilks, who has maintained it for forty years (see console photo) and who added the top manual and solo reed in 2001. The second was the 1880 Forster & Andrews at St Margaret’s in Rochester, being given a root and branch restoration by Henry Groves & Son. Platt was finished and Rochester nearly so – both showing exemplary work. We caught up with old friends and also re-visited Knole, Ightham Mote (see photo) and Chartwell. A rich and enjoyable four days.
