KEELE KEY FUND
KEELE CHAPEL ORGAN
Following the appeal made in the 2013 Forever Keele, and thanks to the many generous
donors to the Keele Key Fund we are very pleased to announce that the next phase of
restoration and repair to the Chapel Organ is now able to take place.
The Keele Chapel Organ was installed
in 1966 and has enjoyed a distinguished
history, including being played at
hundreds of graduation ceremonies.
Many famous organists have played the
organ, among them Dr Francis Jackson
of York Minster, Marie-Claire Alain, the
most-recorded organist in the world,
Peter Hurford OBE, Lionel Rogg the noted
Swiss organist and Dame Gillian Weir. It is
also used as both a practice and teaching
instrument to the music department and
wider community.
Sadly, the condition of the organ has
deteriorated over the years and this
somewhat restricts its use. It is now
some way off the “concert standard”
it once enjoyed for teaching, recitals
and choral performances.
Some much needed repairs took place in
2011 and we can now commence the next
phase of repair and restoration thanks to
the generosity of our alumni, in particular
Founding Graduate Edward Spencer, Jr.
We look forward to bringing you
updates to the work being done to
both the Chapel Organ and to the
Breakfast Room tapestries. If you would
like to support this ongoing conservation
and repair work to preserve a valuable
part of Keele’s heritage, please visit
www.keele.ac.uk/onlinedonation
or telephone Hazel Russell in the
Development Office on 01782 733003
or email [email protected]
TAPESTRIES AND THE CHAPEL ORGAN
Many of our alumni will have seen the tapestries in Keele Hall – in what is now the Staff
Common Room (which is open to everyone) and the smaller Breakfast Room off the side.
The tapestries are a unique feature of
Keele Hall and were made especially for
the rooms when the Hall was rebuilt in
1860. Being Aubusson tapestry panels,
they are important historical heirlooms
and need urgent care if they are to be
preserved for the future.
We are delighted at the Keele Key fund
has approved work to start conserving
the tapestries in the Breakfast room.
These comprise four rectangular shaped
Aubusson tapestry panels depicting
musical instruments, flowers and foliage.
They are constructed from woollen warps
and silk wefts and the edges of the
tapestries are covered with an elaborate
wooden painted coving.
Forever Keele 2015 | 59