Following is a recollection of memories about the organ at Heacham Church.

After reading the comments in the 2014 Mitre from Paul Hodge and others about the organ at Heacham,
I did some research through my diaries as I was there when the organ arrived.
The following is taken pretty much verbatim from them.
I have trouble reading my own writing - so did everyone else - they still do! You might wish to publish this as a follow-up article.

Oct.17th 1967. “New organ arrived”. (Heacham church website says 1970).
Oct 18th 1967. “More organ arrived”.

Those statements are rather an over simplification of the facts.
Over the two days, maybe three pantechnicons arrived and unloaded a great number of boxes of pipes.
The larger ones, I think, were just loose. Also many pieces of wood and panelling wind chests and bellows.
This was spread all over the pews of the south aisle and some in the north aisle too I think. Also large coils of thin lead tubing.
The tubing needs a little basic explanation.
The “action” of this organ was pneumatic in that when a note is played,
a tiny valve is opened and air is sent down a tube from the back of the keyboard to another little valve within the wind chest where the pipe is,
admitting air from the bellows to its base and making it speak. Other “actions” can be mechanical or electronic.
It was decided not to use the lead tubing, but to use plastic instead,
so lots interface boxes had to be made to connect up the organ consol with the wind chests carrying the pipes.
I have no idea who was involved with deciding that the church should have a “new” organ, or how this one was chosen.
I guess it was the PCC, the HM, and the local organ builder, Geoffrey(?) Shaw. (A.J. Shaw and Sons).
We were told about it before it arrived, but work seems not to have started before the new year.
(Otherwise there would be no organ for the Christmas Carol Service).
Jan 1968. “Using the piano”. (for accompaniment.) No comments about the old organ gone, but it must have done at some time.
Jan-Feb 1968.Various comments about “look in church”. Presumably to check progress.
I don’t remember, but we may by now have used Ingoldisthorpe church for school assembly.
Feb. 21st. 1968.“swell and choir boxes on”.
March 1st . 1968.“16ft. Open Diapason in”. These are the large square wooden pipes that ended up on the left side of the organ that you have to squeeze past when using the door to the vestry on that side. (Part of the Pedal Organ-- played with your feet).
March 8th. 1968.“Case of organ up”.
April 26th. 1968.Nothing to do with the organ, but “made Senior Prefect!” Great. Now I can go down the town without having to ask permission!
May 3rd. 1968. “Help with organ in church”.
May 4th. 1968. “Tune and play organ till 9.40 with Mr Shaw”.
May 9th. 1968. “Help Mr. Shaw with organ”.
May 23rd 1968. “Help Mr. Shaw clean 4ft Gemshorn”. (Softer, slightly reedy stop).
May 27th. 1968. “Help Mr. Shaw with organ all morning. Clean Bourdon (upto 8ft. long wooden pipes). Oboe. (8ft. pitch reed stop). Move 16ft Diapason”. (!!)
June 19th. 1968. “Paint organ pipes gold” These would be the front display pipes, mainly the bass end of the Great 8ft Open Diapason.
Strange thing is I remember them as light blue. Perhaps there was a sudden change of colour scheme.
Certainly there was a small group of “professional skivers” who did this maybe on Saturday mornings?
June-July some entries “Help Mr. Shaw in evening” once untill 11PM!
July 12th. 1968. “Some swell pipes in”.
July 20th. 1968. “Cornopean in. V. loud”. (Trumpet-like stop).
Break for Summer holidays.
Oct. 16th. 1968. “Help Mr. Shaw sort out Tromba”. (Loud trumpet-like stop on higher wind pressure).
Nov. 30th. 1968. “Help Mr.Shaw. Met Marion”. (His attractive dark-haired daughter who, as I had done, held down the keys as he tuned the pipes).
Jan 1969. “Met Steve Shaw” (His son).
This is the last entry that has any reference to the organ.
At some time there was an opening recital, but I have not yet found any note about it.
You may also be wondering why I was/am so fanatical about organs.
It is a combination of having an interest in almost anything mechanical, and having been a choirboy in Canterbury Cathedral,
where the organ and its sound and the mechanics behind that sound has always fascinated me. I can’t play it properly though.
Much more recently the organ has been overhauled and enlarged, and is now played from a new consol in the south aisle.
For specifications of almost any church organ (any denomination) look at the website of the National Pipe Organ Register.
(NPOR) www.npor.org.uk then click on search by address, then type in a village or town name.

Chris Gibbs.