The Rochford Compton

THE TEAM

Gerald Usher
Gerald is a founder member of the team. He retired as musical director for Essex a few years back but decided retirement was not a challenge and became involved in many musical activities in the area. Gerald is responsible for the tonal finishing of the organ and ensures it is kept in tune and sounding good.

Tim Wardley
Tim retired from the transport industry due to ill health, since when he has devoted his time to his great passion of preserving our National Heritage for future generations to enjoy. Tim has been involved with organs for three decades, and in addition to the Kingsway Compton has recently accepted the challenge to preserve the BBC Maida Vale Compton Electrone organ. His preservation interests extend through cinema and theatre, to steamships and preserved railways. If it hums and glows, steams and chuffs, or tremulates and resonates...it's up Tim's street!

Pat Dunham
Pat is the newest member of the team. He is not new to organ restoration however and has been working with cinema organs for more than 40 years. In the 70s he did a lot of work for Granada Theatres at a time they still had many instruments in their cinemas.
In recent times he has worked with the Christie at the Granada Walthamstow, the Clayhall Compton and still maintains the Compton at the State Grays.
Pat is our technician and is very handy with a screwdriver and soldering iron.

Charles Tabor
Charles is the owner of the Organ and Sutton Hall Farm where the Red Brick Barn is situated. Indeed Charles owns many farms in the area. The Tabor's family history goes back many generations in the Rochford area.

Peter Hammond
Peter has done much useful work in recent years on the organ. He now spends most of his time on other organ projects. He runs a business called HWS associates that has been responsible for the resoration of many important organs. Among these are the Blackheath Halls Compton, Regal Uxbridge organ console, the Apollo Hammersmith Compton organ and most recently the magnificent two console Compton organ in the Southampton Guildhall.

Bernard See
Bernard can usually be seen at concerts with a couple of video cameras ensuring that a comprehensive record is kept of the performances. He also assists with the maintenance of the organ and other tasks around the Barn.

Home Page...