Singing Hills Golf Course, Albourne

In 1992 a new golf course was created at Albourne out on the beautiful South Downs, just off the A23 near Brighton . It was decided to build the large clubhouse, ‘The Pavilion', around a Wurlitzer Pipe Organ. What better idea than to make the 215 Opus 1840 the foundation of a much larger Wurlitzer... and call the golf course 'Singing Hills' to honour the new theatre organ to be installed in the custom built venue.

It was decided at the outset to keep the 2/5 in its original form, the 2 manual console playing its own five ranks. Then a 3 manual console would be obtained which would play those 5 ranks plus another 14 ranks, making 19 different ranks in , in 1992, the building of the Singing Hills Pavilion and the Wurlitzer commenced; creating a new organ was found very different from an installation of an existing complete instrument.
Renowned organist Michael Maine designed the specification for the new enlarged organ and David Houlgate of Ditchling (he also built and owns the Portslade Compton/Christie) masterminded the construction. The 3/19 uses the Houlgate Scanning Electronic Action, which avoids a huge multi-core main cable; a simple composite wire connects the two consoles to the chamber and no relays are needed. The 2/5 console was completely stripped down and refurbished with new tab motors and key contacts, as the originals were beyond repair. However, the actual engraved tabs and manual keys are original. Every effort was made to find a complete three manual console for the enlarged instrument, but in vain, so one was made!

An illuminated surround was found (from the Regal, Old Kent Road) together with its mechanical dimmer and illuminated bench, a lift (from the Ritz, Barrow-in-Furness), three Christie keyboards (from the Castle Cinema, Merthyr Tydfil), and all the pipes and chests for the extra 14 ranks were brought over from America., with all the components being nearly 70 years old, everything had to be renovated and rebuilt.

The arrangement of the consoles at Sing Hills is rather unique as the 2 manual organ is mounted on a platform which moves sideways to reveal a pit containing the 3 manual console which rises on it's lift to sit along side the 'little' Wurlitzer. 

In 2003 a big screen video system was fitted with four cameras. In 2004 a brand new Yamaha piano was installed and connected to the organ by midi.

The first public concert featuring this mighty Wurlitzer was staged on 30th January 2000. Legendary Phil Kelsall brought the sounds of Blackpool Tower Ballroom to Brighton . The electric atmosphere of the concert enthralled the capacity audience, including many Kelsall fans who had travelled huge distances to be there. Phil also officially opened this new Wurlitzer. An engraved brass plaque commemorates the event for all time.

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