When I was (briefly) apprenticed to J. W. Walker's in the early
1960s, I used regularly to assist the tuner at Hill House, Hook Heath,
Woking, Surrey. This sumptuous home of Walter Deakin, Esq., housed a
two-manual Aeolian residence organ (1913) which comprised about sixteen
ranks. I do not have the specification, but I remember a full-length
16-foot pedal stop and a free-reed Clarinet. The detached console was
in the adjoining lounge.
Walter Deakin was a prominent Methodist musician, conductor of the
Epworth Choir, and I made contact with him again about fifteen years
ago. I was hoping to renew my acquaintance with the organ, but by
then he had replaced it with an electronic organ. There are no records
of the fate of the Aeolian instrument.
Geoffrey Morgan
Christchurch, Dorset, UK
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