Article by: Lee Jones
Check-in
By this time there were now a few more people arriving and already started to check-in, so I decided to ask when my room would be ready ?
” I’ll . . . just check for you Sir – Your room is ready ! here is your pass key, enjoy your stay”
From the Programme i could see I had until 5pm before the official Music Extravaganza Welcome in the Main Concert hall, followed by Trevor Flunder the general manage of Allens Music with his opening Concert.
The Autumn Heat Wave
One of the things I cannot stand is feeling too hot, and fortunately for me this event is held in the middle of October, which usually in the UK is a time of year that can be fairly cold, and it’s not unknown to wake up with frost on the ground in the mornings, which would not normally bother me or be a problem, and quite welcome.
But this was not to be, unusually we were to be subjected to a few days of extremely mild if not an unusually hot and some people referred to it as an Autumn heat wave, with predicted temperatures in excess of 26° C ( 78.8°Fahrenheit) – and clearly by this time of day that is exactly what happened, and I was starting to feel a little hot under the collar to say the least – more of this later.
The grounds outside were very pleasant, and because all the corridors and rooms adjacent to the gardens were used for this event
the only people outside in the garden area were the attendees and with the fine weather a lot of people were making good use of it while it lasted, it really was a good time to relax !
Inside my room
My room was situated down a few corridors
Upon entering the room I was met with a standard Hotel layout with a bathroom to the left just inside the door
on the opposite side a small self contained complimentary tea/coffee making area and full length wardrobe with locking safe.
Internally the fixtures and fittings were of a high quality with sufficient storage space/draws and a large Flat Screen TV on top of a cabinet, next to that a full size writing desk, with a small white envelope containing a welcoming letter from the hotel, with details of the Room, Facilities and the password for the complementary FREE use of an Wi-Fi Internet connection
On the other side of the room was a small coffee table and 2 seat settee, next to that was a large and very comfortable double bed.
First things first, after a number of trips back and forth down the numerous corridors to my room, I was starting to feel very uncomfortable and hot, at which point I stripped off to my underwear sat in the chair adjacent to the vent and turned on the air conditioning. Well it was colder but not cool enough for my personal requirements, so I had a cold shower instead.
Dennis and the Virgin
Having now recovered slightly, and in a change of clothing, it was time to walk back for the 5pm Welcome Meeting in the Main Concert Hall. With everything securely locked away in the safe, apart from the door pass card, I left the room, and after a short while I heard another door shut behind me, when I looked over my shoulder I could see it was a gentleman known to many . . . . . .
Mr Dennis Awe
I continued a few more steps and thought it would be rude not to introduce myself, so I stopped in my tracks turned around and waited for him to catch me up and duly introduced myself, we then walked together and he asked if I own and play a Lowrey Organ ? . . . . and I said yes a Lowrey Stardust, and explained at this time I had only owned it a short while and still very much of a novice, of which he replied “AHH . . . YOUR AN ORGAN VIRGIN THEN” not something I would have personally regarded myself as being for a quite a number of years, but strictly speaking in regards to playing one, then he was 100% correct.
A Rapturous Welcoming Party
By the time we had both reached the main concert hall, Dennis being Dennis and a very friendly guy had his arm around my shoulder still telling me one of his well rehearsed jokes, and upon entering the main concert hall where the majority of people were already seated, a rapturous applause was instantly generated, well you can imagine how I felt, a room full of 150+ people all looking in my direction and I knew they weren’t clapping for me. All I wanted was for the ground to open up and swallow me whole, but the best I could hope for was to get seated as quickly as possible. With only a few seats left at the back I continued to walk with Dennis to the back of the room where I gratefully sat down. The funny thing was, later the following day I was told that some people there thought I knew Dennis personally and I was one of the a Guest Organists ? – perhaps next year !
Drinks Reception
Later at 5:30pm, there was a Drinks reception in the lounge, a Free glass of wine or fruit juice, at this point I was still very much a billy no mates and on my own, not knowing anyone there and feeling a bit like a lost lamb amongst a vast flock of sheep.
Evening Dinner & Dress Code
Evening Dinner on the first night was at 5:50, and with the welcoming reception and drinks running a little later than advertised, there was only about 5 minutes to go, and promptly at 5:50 a lot of guests were moving towards the Emperor Suite for the evening meal.
I did ask Jill when she phoned me about some finer details, what the dress code was to be ? – well she got very excited to tell me how it was going to be a Sixties Fancy dress on Saturday night, and I never really got an answer to that question.
For me still being a little hot under the collar at this time, I thought that a smart shirt and trouser combo would be adequate, had planned on wearing a jacket as well, but I knew this would make me feel very uncomfortable, hot and sweaty, so this was left behind in my room.
Most of those in attendance were just wearing smart casual, some had a jacket, shirt, & tie, while others were very casual indeed wearing shorts and polo shirts, so was there an official dress code, I don’t think so, wear what ever you feel comfortable in seamed to be the preferred attire.
A small world to make friends
I joined the queue for the choice of starter and went for the soup, which looked to be very nice and indeed it was. I looked around for a suitable table to sit at without encroaching upon anyone else there, and perhaps sitting at a table where I may not have been welcome as an outsider.
The thing you have to remember is that the vast majority of these attendees have all known each other and have been going for many years, some for 14 consecutive years.
I was the new boy, and to me clearly I had to choose wisely.
One table in particular had a number of Gents sitting together, so I sat on their table, to the right of me was a gentleman called Brian Hardisty, he was a very smartly dressed character in a jacket and tie with his wife seated on the other side. In fact Brian was very immaculately dressed, likewise his wife every time I saw them.
Well Feer not my friends, one thing that is for sure that everyone there has a common interest, and striking up a conversation with anyone you don’t know is very easy indeed as i soon found out.
Everyone around the table I sat at was wearing their name badge, so you instantly knew 2 things about them, their first name and where they came from, and within minutes of sitting down the person sitting directly to my left was Roy (above), and next to him Tony (below). Both these guys where very friendly and made me feel very welcome
Roy asked me the most common question you’ll be asked, and it’s definitely the official Ice Breaker Question – ” So Lee, what Organ do you have” I replied – I have a stardust Roy, he then went on to tell me a about a good friend of his who also owned a Lowrey Stardust, Unfortunately he passed away recently and his Daughter sold it to someone down south.
I think that must have been me then, I said!, I live in Bedfordshire, was his name Bill Dickson? . . . . Yes that’s right, he said, and went on to tell me a number of stories about Billy as he then liked to refer to him as.
And so I now had two people I could speak to. Brian sitting on the other side of me must have overheard our conversation and said he used to own a Stardust as well and if I supplied him with an email address, he’ll send me number a of good SU530 registrations and music PDF’s to go along with them.
So after all the worrying about not knowing anyone to talk to, the evening turned out quite well, and now I was starting to relax and enjoy it, but still feeling very hot !
I returned back to my room for about an Hour before the evening concert started.
Unfortunately for everyone reading this I did not film or want to be filming all the Evening concerts, after all, I was really there to enjoy myself and cannot fully enjoy it if all I’m concentrating on is getting some good footage and photographs, so my apologies but your just have to go yourself to experience it fully.
At 7:30pm, and for an hour the evening concert was opened by Jim Weida from Lowrey USA, he performed many songs, and it’s surprising just how many can be played within an hour. There was a short 20 minute break, so a swift half pint of lager from the bar was just what I needed to cool off outside on the patio, and returned to the concert hall at 8:50 pm for the final part performed by what can only be described as Mr Lowrey himself – Mr Dennis Awe, a truly traditional type of entertainer who regularly performs in Las Vegas, and came complete with a razzmatazz sparkly Jacket.
So that was just the first day over and a lot had gone on, tomorrow is Saturday, and the first full day of activities, workshops and concerts. did I mention some more fabulous food ?
To Be Continued . . . . .PART 4