Bury St Edmunds’ Old Burians’ Association hope to restore pipe organ gifted to King Edward VI School

A Bury St Edmunds group is to a restore a piece of the town’s history – but it needs the help of the community.

The Old Burians’ Association, a group made up of past King Edward VI pupils, hopes to restore a pipe organ left to rot in the former St James Middle School site in The Vinefields back to its former glory.

Initially installed in 1962 as a gift from the King Edward VI Foundation Trustees – when King Edward VI School was based at the site – the organ was threatened to be demolished when a planning application was submitted in April to turn the building into flats.

The Old Burians’ Association is hoping that the community will get behind this project and help raise the £42,000 needed to see the organ built in West Suffolk College’s Gateway Building.

Chairman of the group Charles Hamel-Cooke said: “The organ was left behind. If it had been a grand piano it would have been put into a van and taken away. But because it’s built into the hall it requires specialist work to remove it.

“If someone wanted to buy a pipe organ today it would be in excess of £100,000 so it’s a valuable instrument.

“I believe it’s extremely unlikely that there is another pipe organ anywhere in East Anglia that isn’t either in a church or in a private school.”

Mr Hamel-Cooke, who went to King Edward VI School during the 60s, remembered the organ and made it his mission to rescue it.

He hopes that the organ’s prime location in the college and nearby to other schools and sixth form colleges will inspire a new generation of organ players.

“There is a shortage of organists now because there are very few organs for them to learn on, unless pupils attach themselves to a church. Somebody from a different background might want to become organists if they like the music,” he added.

“It’s a valuable instrument and you can’t let something like that be smashed up by a digger.”

Mr Hamel-Cooke removed the organ and majority of it is now in storage in King Edward VI School in Grove Road waiting to be transported to the organ builder’s workshop near Norwich.

Some of the organ’s parts suffered deterioration and it will be the organ builder’s job to refurbish it and get it back in playable condition.

The group are looking for donations by members of the public and local organisations and businesses. They are also applying to different funds including the National Lottery and individual foundations and trust funds, as well as donations from Old Burians’ Association members.

When the organ is restored, the group hope to organise a recital in the autumn.

To donate, you can make a BACS transfer to the Old Burians’ Association, account number: 33556212, sort code: 20-16-12.

Or send a cheque payable to Old Burians’ Association to committee member David Blackmore at this address: 89 Cromwell Lane, Coventry, Warwickshire, CV4 8AQ.