Exciting Times For Bablake Organists

The Music Department is thrilled to announce that it has a grant from the estate of the late John Phipps both to restore the organ in the Main School Hall and build a practice instrument in the Rehearsal Room.

John Phipps was a former Headmaster of Coventry Preparatory School and a great supporter of Church music, organ playing and choral singing during his lifetime; he instigated the construction of a new organ for a church near his home and left a legacy to promote organ playing for a younger generation, part of which is providing instruments and scholarships for young people to be able to learn.

The restoration of our fine Compton organ in the Main Hall, originally given by Old Wheatleyans, will be undertaken by Mr Trevor Tipple MBE (pictured), an organ builder of some note. Work will begin during the Summer break, so we are hoping to hear the Compton restored in all its glory during the Autumn term. 

The new practice instrument in the Rehearsal Room will be an organ with two manuals and pedals in an oak case and we are very much looking forward to recruiting more organ pupils next year to play this wonderful new instrument.

Dr Nick Scott-Burt, who will be teaching our organ pupils, commented: 'I am really pleased that the Compton organ is being restored, as it is a fine instrument that has been underused in the last few years due to its state of repair. It’s very exciting to have a teaching and practice instrument in the EDM as well. I’ve played instruments built by Trevor Tipple before, notably the beautifully restored and extended organ in Worcester's St. Martin’s Church, so I am looking forward to hearing what he does for us here at Bablake.'