LEN RAWLE
THE PROFESSIONAL AMATEUR
& ORGANIST SUPREME
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PAGE TWO:
THE ARMY YEARS
&
EARLY OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY
THE THEATRE ORGAN
Len seated at the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ of the Ritz (ABC) Cinema Aldershot
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1954-1956: THE ARMY YEARS
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Len arrived at Aldershot Garisson in 1954, where along with a host of other young men, was subjected to the first part of Basic Training. During these early weeks of initiation, they learned to march, drill, fire a rifle along with a host of other activities geared to transform them into soldiers.
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Len recalls polishing the badge on his beret and remembers an incident regarding his badge, himself and the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM). It occurred during his Square Bashing Days when the RSM was conducting an inspection. The RSM stood in front of Len, and although he found nothing amiss, he was evidently on the prowl and in the mood to find something not up to military standard and ready to make an example of someone.
Looking at Len’s brass badge, he took hold of it and studied it carefully. Next he turned it over whereupon he found traces of dried Brasso cleaner that Len had inadvertently forgotten to remove. Seeing this, he screamed at Len, WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS? A BLOODY PENICILLIN FACTORY? As Len said, Happy Days!!!
The Archetypal Regimental Sergeant Major
as played by Windsor Davies (1930-2019) in the BBC-TV Series, It ain’t Half Hot Mum
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Once the initial training had been completed, Len and the other recruits in his group were given their Postings. Most were given orders to report to bases abroad, however Len was fortunate in that thanks to both his clerical background in insurance and his musical talents, the officials saw fit to station him at Aldershot. Here, his clerical duties included acting as the Commanding Officers Clerk and his musical duties included playing at the two Battalion Churches, for Passing Out Parades and at other sundry celebrations. As part of the Passing Out celebrations, he organised, and accompanied on the piano, variety shows held in the Battalion Theatre. These shows were always greatly appreciated, and much needed, following the rigours of the previous two weeks of training. In addition, playing at officers’ dances added to his musical duties. Len remembers being able to listen on most mornings to the daily BBC organ broadcasts while performing his clerical duties.
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The Wurlitzer Theatre Organ of the Ritz (ABC) Cinema Aldershot
After learning of the presence of a Wurlitzer Theatre Organ (3-Manual; 7-Ranks together with an illuminated console and grand piano) at the Ritz Cinema in Aldershot, Len says that he summoned up his courage to introduce himself to the cinema manager, Mr. Kenneth Gray, and ask if he might play the instrument at some time.
Mr. Gray told him that this would not be possible. However, Len was not daunted, and with the encouragement of his father, he persevered, and several times made the two-mile walk from the army base to the cinema to ask the manager to change his mind. Eventually, Mr. Gray relented and contacted the cinema circuit’s musical director in London, Mr. Joseph Seal, to gain permission for him to play the organ.
The Ritz Cinema Aldershot in 1946 (Left) & 1951 (Right)
The Auditorium of the Ritz Cinema Aldershot
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Mr. Seal agreed and Len was allowed to play for the Children’s Saturday Morning Matinees on the understanding that he did not employ the lift used to raise the organ up into the auditorium or the illuminated surround, as the company’s insurance policy only covered the official team of professional organists for their use. Although he was not paid to play at the Matinees, Len was happy just to play.
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ABC Minor’s Club Badges
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During Len’s National Service at Aldershot, he gained a good deal of musical experience thanks to a variety of opportunities that presented themselves. These included being allowed to play the Compton Theatre Organ (2-Manual; 6-Ranks) of the Empire Cinema (later Odeon Theatre) which was next door to the Ritz. Here, he regularly played its organ to open the cinema’s Sunday programming.
Empire Cinema Aldershot
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C3 Hammond Organ
Len also discovered that there was a C3 Hammond Organ installed at the nearby Bordon Camp that he soon gained access to. And once he learned that the Royal Army Service CompanyCorps.(RASC) Band was based close to his barracks and that there were two choirs at nearby Farnborough, he quickly sought out the chance to play with them. As a result of these experiences, he was able to bring together a group of fellow musicians to accompany a number of productions of Gilbert & Sullivan Operettas.
Len says that these opportunities gave him a good grounding for his future musical career. He is also quick to add that during this time, he was able to make a number of lifelong friends including Kenneth Gray and his family and the celebrated ABC organist, Mr. George Blackmore FRCO (1921-1994).
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LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
THE INN IS HAPPY TO PRESENT FOR YOUR DELIGHT & ENTERTAINMENT …….
MR. LEN RAWLE AT THE ORGAN
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LEN’S FIRST PAYING GIG
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Len at the Wagon & Horses Inn, Lymington seated at a Selmer Organ
Mr. John Hayter, the host at the Wagon & Horses Inn in Lymington in Hampshire, came to a concert given by Len when he was playing in Aldershot during his National Service days. He apparently enjoyed it so much that he invited Len to enjoy a weekend away from military life and play the house organ installed at the Inn.
The Wagon & Horses Inn
While staying at the Inn, Len played for the customers each lunchtime and evening. Len remembers the kindness shown to him plus the wonderful menu. In addition to this, he was given full use of a Rover 90 automobile, which allowed him to discover the New Forest.
Rover 90 from 1954
The photograph shown above was taken on Skiffle Night, hence the washboard shown in the lower left-hand area.
This was Len’s first professional paying gig and little did he realise where this would eventually lead him.
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Although this was his first professional popular music engagement, when he returned to the insurance industry, Len recalls a couple of nominal payments for playing the organ at St Botolph-Without-Bishopsgate Church close to Liverpool Street Railway Station for Insurance Company Carol Services and also for playing the piano at the Mansion House (The Official Home of The Lord Mayor of the City of London) for celebratory dinners.
Top Left: St. Botolph-Without-Bishopsgate Church; Top Right: Mansion House
Bottom Left: The Lord Mayor of London (2020); Bottom Right: The Crest & Flag of the City of London
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