The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar presented a report, the purpose of which, was to advise the Joint Committee on repairs required to the pipe organ in Crallo Chapel at Coychurch Crematorium and to seek approval for improvement and maintenance works.

She explained that the Crematorium is a Grade 2* listed and an important work by architect Maxwell Fry. The existing organ was original to the 1970 building and was built by the distinguished company N P Mander of

London.

The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar confirmed that the pipe organ has many tangible advantages over an electric organ, such as visual beauty, longevity and the quality of materials and craftsmanship

employed, but primarily it’s the sound quality. The Crematorium she felt, was extremely fortunate to have a pipe organ of such size and quality. This was without doubt one of the unique selling points, which was demonstrated by the wonderful singing that we have come to be known for, attracting

many choirs and soloists.

She proceeded by stating, that the organ has received minimal financial input since 1970, other than that required for basic tuning and maintenance. However, its reliability of late has become more challenging and causing lengthier and more expensive tuning visits. The tuners recommended in 2016 some modernisation of the electrical contacts and some consideration for the safety of the tuner when accessing the pipes at height. The

2017/18 and 2018/19 business plans made provision of £20,000 for minimal repairs, but these had again been postponed in order to fully assess requirements. The original builders, Manders Organs Ltd, were subsequently consulted to carry out a full inspection in October 2018.

She then gave a full resume of the outcome of the inspection, including details of some expansive works that were now required to the organ as a result of such an inspection.

Following this, she added that the organ unusually does not include a reed instrument sound and so it is planned to include an oboe as part of the solid state.

The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar advised the Joint Committee, that a substitute organ would be made available during the 4 to 5 month duration of the works.

Considering the Crematorium’s Grade 2* listing is it proposed that this work is carried out by Manders Organs Ltd, as a trustworthy means of rendering it mechanically reliable for the future and in order to preserve its authenticity.

The cost of the above works is £96,400 and is included in the Crematorium’s Business Plan for 2019/20. (for clarification, £20,000 is carried forward from this financial year plus an additional £76, 000 from Crematorium reserves).

A Member asked why the works required to the organ had not gone out to tender, in order to obtain ‘best value’ in terms of the cost for its repair/upgrading.

The Bereavement Services Manager and Registrar, advised that the pipe organ was a very unique and complex instrument and as such, it was considered extremely important to secure the company who originally constructed it, to undertake its upgrading works. She added that as well as this, there were very few companies available to carry out the works that were required to such an instrument.

RESOLVED:                      That the Joint Committee approved the works as outlined in the report and verbally at the meeting, by Manders Organs Ltd, in the sum of £96,400.