The Mighty Compton Organ

'OUT OF DARKNESS COMETH LIGHT' is the apt motto for the newly formed city of Wolverhampton. Out of darkness relates to the industrial age when Wolverhampton was, indeed, a great power. Towards the end of the 19th Century, with the wealth that industrial cities and towns had created, civic pride was evident, culminating in large cathedrals, parish churches and civic buildings. So, in the late 1930's, the Civic and Wulfrun Halls came into being.

All-important to the Civic Hall was the provision of a mighty dual-purpose organ, to provide entertainment of a civic and concert nature. Not to forget dancing on the magnificent sprung dance floor. To this end, the John Compton Organ Company Ltd was invited to tender for the 'supply and delivery of a suitable organ for the Civic Hall'. The Contract was signed on the 4th January 1937 for the total sum of £6000. This would be guaranteed for 25 years, subject to a tuning contract with Compton.

The Council's advisor was Birmingham born Gilbert Mills. E. Betts and R. Turner headed the installation team. John Compton himself designed the Organ, with on sight regulation by J. Taylor and John Compton.

The whole of the organ is installed in two chambers suspended from the roof, totally enclosed behind five sets of shutters. There are now 44 ranks plus tonal and non-tonal percussions housed in the chambers. An electronic grand piano is also provided. Originally, a melotone unit was installed and controlled from the solo manual. This, however, was disconnected in about 1939. Compton said, 'as a recital instrument, it is second to none in the midlands and every part was made in our own factory. It is also suitable for light music'.

At the time of the installation, no borough organist had been appointed. 'Giants' of the day Thalben-Ball, Cunningham and Heath-Gracey were appointed to oversee the auditions. Over 120 applicants were interviewed. Arnold Richardson applied and was chosen, serving the borough superbly until 1972. The opening ceremony was performed over two days with Jack Hilton and his Dance Orchestra. Supplying the music for the band breaks was BBC Broadcasting Organist, Mr. Reginald New.

The Organ then settled down to a weekly diet of organ recitals, accompanying choirs and was also used for solo music. The Civic Hall has projection rooms, so the organ sometimes provided music for intermissions between films.

Nearly every organist appeared at the Compton console throughout the next four decades, including 'Mr. Blackpool', Reginald Dixon, Sidney Torch and Reginald Foort. The Organ was also broadcast regularly. This continued until the mid 1970's.

After the retirement of Arnold Richardson in 1972, and the change of public tastes, the organ was not used so often. It gradually became more unreliable, more things went wrong, and it became quite difficult to play. This situation continued until the early 1990's, when Steve Tovey was approached by the management to see what could be done. At this point, he joined the Civic team as Borough Organist, his brief being to popularise the organ.

Being a theatre organist and theatre organ builder, the first thing that Steve did was to add a Tibia Clausa, Glockenspiel and Xylophone. He then set about finding the many faults in order to make the organ more reliable.