A community show featuring songs from a bygone age of entertainment will help raise money to restore a piece of Ramsey’s heritage next weekend.

The ’Start of the Pier Show’ will feature songs and music hall-style comedy and performance, and will take place at Quayle’s Hall next Friday and Saturday, July 16-17, from 7.30pm on both nights.

The show is being held to raise funds to restore an organ that was once situated in the cafe at the end of Ramsey’s Iron Pier and played to entertain tourists and locals for decades.

The Hamilton pier organ was brought at auction by local artist and historian Michael Starkey and, although in a remarkably good and playable condition, is in need of restoration.

The pier organ was built in 1888 and spent its entire life at the end of the pier until it was superseded by modern music in the 1950s. It has been in private ownership ever since.

The pier show will be directed by Carol Fraser, who said that they intend to keep the organ at the hall and use it for public performance.

’We are doing a Victorian-style entertainment and variety show, with a dozen or so people performing,’ said Carol.

’We will be doing some seaside and popular Manx songs, and we will put a musical show on, with songs like the Lambeth Walk, that kind of thing.

’In between those we have some of the old ’patter’ songs, by the likes of Joyce Grenfell and Bernard Cribbins, which are a bit of a laugh.

’And, also, when I was looking into producing this show, I found out that the week after the show is the 125th anniversary of the Ramsey pier, which was opened on July 22, in 1886. ’We will be looking to raise money to restore this lovely organ.

’We don’t know exactly how much we’ll need, but it’ll be a few hundred at least.

’When the organ is restored, it will be kept at Quayle’s Hall and we would like to use it regularly.

’There are many reasons why we are doing the show, but essentially, it is a community show.

’Everyone needs a bit of a laugh at the moment, and this makes it a good reason to have one.’

Tickets are £5, available by contacting Carol on 322440 or on the door.