Music lovers should enjoy the last organ concert in the current season which takes place at the weekend.

At the console is Buchan music teacher Gareth Moore who will be playing a selection of light popular music.

Mr Moore is a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music and, for a period, was music teacher and chapel organist at King William’s College, where he was eventually appointed director of music.

Mr Moore will be playing the instrument in Trinity Methodist Church in Douglas, where he is the resident organist.

According to island organ builder Peter Jones, the church’s Foster and Andrews two-manual instrument is housed in a case which borders on the bizarre.

’It is one of our finest instruments,’ he said.

’It was built in 1887, originally it was hand-blown by an unfortunate person sited two floors down in the cellar, its large array of stops would have given an entirely new meaning to the term ’work-out,’ especially as the blower was in close proximity to the heating boiler.

’When the organist wanted "wind", he could send down a signal via a wooden pedal (still in place) though there would be no way of telling just how much, and for how long, "blowing" would be required.

’By the light of a candle, or lamp, or maybe even the new-fangled gas mantle, the organ blower would be expected to work the blowing handle up and down, keeping the "mouse" (an indicator which usually took the form of a weight on a string from the bellows) at a constant level.

’If he stopped, or did not blow hard enough, the organ above would die. ’

Mr Jones added: ’One organ I heard of, had an answer for this in the form of the "More Wind" stop.

’It released a spring-loaded length of wood which administered a sharp blow to the head of the wretch at the blowing-handle.

’I wonder if health and safety would approve this otherwise highly efficient method?

’The only consolation for the "blower" might be his inability to hear the sermon, and read his newspaper between hymns.

’In our more enlightened times, pressing the "start" button at the console switches on an electric fan, which supplies more wind than the organ can use, and for as long as is necessary.’

There will be a retiring collection after the event, which takes place on Sunday, November 25 at 3pm.

Parking is available around the church, which is near the Rosemount Hotel, on the corner of Bucks Road and Windsor Road.

The car park entrance is on Kensington Road.

The event is promoted by the Isle of Man Organists’ Association.

For more information about the association call John Riley on 675569.