Following our offer to encourage activity north of the Border, Donald Ross kindly offered to seek out local organists to join with CSO members to provide a members' recital.

Despite the central location of Greyfriars, the audience was somewhat sparse as was the response from the local organist community. Two ladies, who one suspected as organists, rose to their feet during the performance to make the tea, which left three in the audience. Despite being hardened by years of dashed hopes, Donald produced a most interesting and varied programme from four players. These were Alastair McEwan, resident organist, who made us most welcome, Stephen Crosbie from Dumfries, Richard Brooks from Dalston and Clare Mingins from Penrith. The instrument is a Wyvem 3 manual electronic with an English specification, determined by the previous organist. The organ produced sounds which suited some pieces but not others. Of the four players only Clare was a CSO member but Stephen has been in the past, and is organist at Kirkcudbright Parish Church. Alastair has subsequently revoiced some of the stops and has produced a considerable improvement.

During the interval Donald supplied us with an excellent tea at his own expense and we were all very grateful to him, both for the tea and the rather frustrating task of finding players. Originally, we thought that if the CSO provided two players then there would be four local organists. CSO members in the audience were Colin Rae, Ron Craig and John Day. Despite the meagre response, Donald is still keen to arrange an event in September 2000.

The programme was as follows:

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