The arrangements have finally been confirmed for the Musical Box
Society of GB's Autumn Meeting in Coventry over the weekend of Friday
19th to Sunday 21st October. The final programme is

Friday Evening

After a private dinner members will learn more about Coventry's long
and interesting history of watch making. A short talk has been arranged
with  the Coventry Watch Museum who will also be providing a small
exhibition of early watches and instruments used by English
watchmakers.

Saturday Morning

Following a hearty breakfast members will enjoy a series of varied
lectures (the topics are still to be fully confirmed, yet promise to be
both informative and entertaining looks at different aspects of
mechanical  music) in the Hotel, with a coffee break part way through.
After this there  will be buffet lunch before we embark on what will be
a packed afternoon of music.

Saturday Afternoon

We leave the hotel in a double decker bus to travel from Coventry to
Wolverhampton Civic Hall. Here is one of the most impressive Compton
Organs installed there in the 1930s alongside the magnificent console
of the Empress Ballroom Console from Blackpool. Here we will enjoy a
concert on the Compton by young organist David Gray, winner of the 2005
American Theatre Organ Trust's annual competition for under 22s in
California. Once the concert has finished  and other visitors have
left, Wolverhampton City Organist Steve Tovey will then give members a
detailed tour of the Compton and its chambers.

There is still more on this packed afternoon. Steve has been kind
enough to invite members back to see and hear his own Compton in the
picturesque surrounds  of Cannock Chase in Staffordshire. On this
nine-rank instrument Steve will accompany silent films and show off the
skills he developed whilst playing the  organ to accompany films at the
Odeon Cinema in Birmingham.  Light refreshments  will be provided
before members jump back on the bus to take them back to the  hotel in
Coventry for the evening's fun.

Saturday Evening

A banquet dinner will be served after which members will be able to
enjoy the sound and enthusiasm of a full twenty-five piece brass band.
The culmination of the music will be a mini-Proms style concert.

Sunday Morning

After tucking into a good full English breakfast we will travel to the
centre of the historic Cathedral City of Coventry where members have a
number of options open to them: 1. Visit the Coventry Transport Museum
- home to the two fastest cars in  the world plus and unparalleled
collection of bicycles, motorbikes and cars.  There is even a
recreation of a WW2 blitz.  2. Visit the Cathedral - The two styles of
the two cathedrals (that of the Medieval Abbey and the 1962 replacement
after the former was bombed) provide a stark contrast to each other 3.
Shopping - Members and their guests may want to take advantage of the
various shopping centres within the city 4. The Lady Godiva Clock -
This recently restored automaton clock recreates Lady Godiva's historic
ride on the hour 5. Coventry Toy Museum - This museum shows the story
of toys from the mid-18th through to the mid-20th centuries

Returning back to the hotel members will enjoy another buffet lunch
before departing home

If you like the sound of this packed programme then members should have
already received their booking forms which need to be returned to the
membership secretary.

If you also like the sound of this weekend but are not a member, then
please visit our web site for information on joining the MBSGB:

  http://www.mbsgb.org.uk/

Best wishes,

John Ward - Meeting Disorganiser