Powis Academy's Organ

This month’s document is from the programme for the inauguration of the organ at Powis School on 7^th March 1969.

It comes from an extensive collection of records relating to education in the Grampian area that are available to consult at Old Aberdeen House.

The concert marked the end of an innovative project to remove the organ from its original site to Powis Academy where it was rebuilt by pupils and staff.

Described as ‘one of the most colourful periods in the history of the school’, the project seems to have been greatly enjoyed by everyone at the school, as well as giving the organ a further lease of life following the demolition of its original home at the Astoria Cinema in Kittybrewster.  

The Compton Illuminated Organ at Powis Academy had originally been situated in the Astoria Cinema at Kittybrewster, which opened in 1934. It was reputedly the first of its kind in Britain, but its future was put in doubt in 1967 when the Cinema building was due to be demolished after it had closed in the previous year.

When the Head Teacher of Powis Academy, Mr Valentine gave his support for the project to rebuild the organ in the school hall, it transpired that it had to be dismantled and removed within ten days, at which point the demolishing work was due to start. Luckily the owners agreed that the organ could be dismantled and stored at the school ‘until its fate was settled’. 

What followed was a mass transportation of the organ parts from the building, including some of the larger pipes being carried by pupils up the Great North Road ‘to the astonished stares of passers-by!’.

Partly due to the unconventional way in which the organ was acquired, it took six months for the authorisation for its purchase to be approved by the City Council, and during this period the price dropped from £500 to £400. 

Rebuilding of the organ took a further nine months until it produced its first sound at Powis Academy on 3^rd October 1968. It carried on providing music for school assemblies and events for 14 years, until the hall, including the organ, was suddenly destroyed by fire on 22 November 1982.

Background to the Powis School organ project, 1967-1969

The Compton Illuminated Organ at Powis Academy had originally been situated in the Astoria Cinema at Kittybrewster, which opened in 1934. It was reputedly the first of its kind in Britain, but its future was put in doubt in 1967 when the Cinema building was due to be demolished after it had closed in the previous year.

When the Head Teacher of Powis Academy, Mr Valentine gave his support for the project to rebuild the organ in the school hall, it transpired that it had to be dismantled and removed within ten days, at which point the demolishing work was due to start. Luckily the owners agreed that the organ could be dismantled and stored at the school ‘until its fate was settled’. 

What followed was a mass transportation of the organ parts from the building, including some of the larger pipes being carried by pupils up the Great North Road ‘to the astonished stares of passers-by!’.

Partly due to the unconventional way in which the organ was acquired, it took six months for the authorisation for its purchase to be approved by the City Council, and during this period the price dropped from £500 to £400. 

Rebuilding of the organ took a further nine months until it produced its first sound at Powis Academy on 3^rd October 1968. It carried on providing music for school assemblies and events for 14 years, until the hall, including the organ, was suddenly destroyed by fire on 22 November 1982.

[Originally published as a Document of the Month].