ORGAN1st Radio with Alan Ashton

I would like to thank so many friends and organ world enthusiasts for all the messages of Sympathy following the passing on October 31st of my dear wife Dorothy after losing a 10 month struggle to overcome a serious heart operation. Thank you all so much.

Secondly and for the reason that I've been producing and presenting theatre, electronic & keyboard organ music for 50 years via broadcasts, (National and Local) and in more recent times via podcasts, I decided to make the December edition of ORGAN1st Radio my final one. Everything it contains are recordings, for one reason or another, that meant something to both Dorothy & I. For once it seemed to be a good excuse not to rack my brain in order to cobble together a programme of festive music that changes so little as the years roll by! Unbeknownst to me fellow broadcaster Ian Wolstenholme contacted many organists and people connected with the organ world in order to compile a lengthy retirement ‘best wishes’ addition to the final show. Huge surprise which I watched through a mixture of tears of sadness and happy memories.

All my programmes for ORGAN1st Radio will remain in the Archive and at least I will have a little more time to continue adding to the long list of YouTube videos in the Organ Celebrities and associated productions under my GramRfone or Percy Quill credits.

Back in 1971 the organ scene was dominated by the weekly broadcasts by the ‘Old Organ Grinder’ Robin Richmond, but whether he appreciated it or not along came the likes of myself (Radio Manchester) Eric Lord (Radio Blackburn) and Arnold Loxam, Frank Hare & Barry Davenport (Radio Leeds). In fact there were enthusiasts in the NW ‘triangle’ who were placed and able to hear all these shows, plus those by Robin each week... Happy days.

Back in 1971 my fee for a 30-minute weekly show was £5 & the Tax Man even chased me for some of that in the belief that I had an off-shore Swiss Bank Account! Mind you, towards the end of my BBC association of 17 years it had risen to £15 for a 60 minute edition which invariably got taken off without notice in order to comply with the need to honour the great God of Football at Trafford Park. With the occasional access to the WurliTzer at the Playhouse in Hulme, I was able to present several live concerts, all of which were free admission, featuring some of the great names in both theatre and electronic organ playing.

Finally, to everyone who has enjoyed my broadcasts/podcasts over the years, a big thank you for your musical friendship.