Organ recital will honour former church player
AN ORGAN recital at Torteval Church on Saturday will have a dual purpose.
It will mark the completion of upgrading work on the organ and be in memory of Roger Brooks, who used to play it at special services.
Professional organist Keith Hearnshaw, who was born in the Midlands, began playing the organ aged 13.
He has known Mr Brooks and his wife Sue, the current rector’s warden at Torteval, since he was boy when the couple were teaching in the UK.
Mr Brooks held a number of teaching posts in the UK and was organist and choirmaster at St John’s Parish Church, Bromsgrove, for 22 years.
Mr Hearnshaw has made a number of TV and radio appearances including BBC Radio Two’s The Organist Entertains show, marking Elgar’s 150th anniversary. His concerts are wide and varied and presented musically and verbally in a style that is said to make the organ accessible.
‘Keith played at Roger’s funeral in 2019 and we’re great friends,’ said Mrs Brooks.
‘When we were in the UK, Keith would accompany our church choir on visits to various cathedrals.’
Some of the work on the church organ was financed by donations made at Mr Brooks’ funeral, which took place at Torteval Church, where he was also a lay minister.
‘The organ has had a good overhaul and some of the worn parts have been replaced,’ said Mrs Brooks.
‘An extra two foot stop has also been fitted which has enhanced the instrument’s sound.’
The organ at Torteval Church was installed in 1883 by Hele and Company of Plymouth.
It had to be pumped by hand up to 1938, when the church got its first electricity supply.
The latest work was undertaken by Andrew Stevens of Steeple Bumpstead, Suffolk. The cost of the new stop was just under £22,000.
Saturday’s Concert starts at 7.30pm.
Admission is free, with a retiring collection taken.
