Save the organ plea from choir

WARRINGTON Male Voice Choir used its annual Christmas concert to promote the battle to save the historic Parr Hall organ for the town.
The programme for “Christmas Voices, Christmas Brass” included a plea for people to sign an online petition to the Prime Minister.
Choir patron Terry Waite said, in the programme, that he had been “profoundly shocked” to hear of the proposal to move the organ to Sheffield Cathedral.
He said: “Warrington, an industrial town is fortunate to have one or two cultural treasures and the organ is, without question one of, if not the main item. To remove it from the Parr Hall would be in effect to remove the heart from this historic building and should this proposal be accepted future generations would look back in amazement that leaders of the town could have agreed to such a proposal.
“Considerable attempts have been made in recent years to enhance Warrington and the organ, along with a restored Hall ought to be a prominent feature of the town. I sincerely hope that this proposal will be soundly rejected”.
Compere Bob Williams told the audience the organ would “speak for itself” – and it did when organist Anthony Whittaker performed two solos as well as accompanying the choir in some pieces.
Also taking part in the concert were the choir’s youth section, Harmony in Blue, soprano Claire Ronan and Bactiguard Wire Brass, conducted by Paul Andrews.