Stories Of London

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The Wedding Group
From Left to Right:  Len’s Parents, Mr. Les Rawle & Mrs. Judith Rawle;
Len’s Brother & Best Man, Mr. Dennis Rawle;
Len and Judith;
Judith’s Parents: Mrs. Dora Rogers & Mr. Ernest Rogers;
and Two Young Bridesmaids
The Bridesmaid on the right is the daughter of Mr. Doug Badham,
Chairman of the Cinema Organ Society at that time 

The couple were married in St. Nicholas Church in Sevenoaks on 12th September, 1964 and, following their honeymoon, moved into their self-built home, at Chorleywood in Hertfordshire, which they had aptly named Tonawanda after the town in Northern New York State where all of the Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organs were produced by The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company.

St. Nicholas Church Sevenoaks

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Len recalls that when they moved in to their house, they owned very little in terms of furniture.  The kitchen had the barest of fittings.  They had no floor coverings or stairs to the upper floor.  Until the staircase was built, they had to climb a ladder to gain access to the upper floor!  All they had in their lounge were two deckchairs and, of course, the glorious Console of The Empress!

The Console of The Empress now at home in the lounge of Tonawanda  

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The Rawle Family
Len and Judith (far left) with their children, Elizabeth (born 23rd October, 1965), Richard (born 24th August, 1967) and Georgina (17th January, 1974) along with their spouses and children
and members of their extended family

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The London & South of England Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS), along with the weekly musical evenings, was transferred to Tonawanda following the passing of Len’s father in 2005.

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During their fifty-six years of marriage, Tonawanda is the only home that Len and Judith have ever lived in and have no plans to move anytime soon. 

Len continued to work at the Royal Insurance Company  (originally The London & Lancashire Insurance Company Limited) for the first seven years of his marriage, until 1971, when he was offered a position at Kemble Pianos–Yamaha UK, which will be discussed in detail later.

Between his work and helping Judith to raise three children, Len found time to become involved in a number of projects both with his father and others where they restored a number of theatre organs.  In addition, he managed to find time to give concerts at Tonawanda and throughout the UK and abroad. 

Regarding the restoration of theatre organs, Len is quick to say that this work was achieved over a number of years and with help from some very good friends who were willing to also give up much of their free time and weekends to help. 

Len says that there were three major Wurlitzer Theatre Organs rebuilds undertaken mainly by himself:

• the Theatre Organ of the Granada Theatre Harrow;
• the Theatre Organ of the Granada Theatre Tooting; and
• the removal of the Wurlitzer Theatre of the Summerland Leisure Centreon The Isle of Mann and its transplant to its present home at the Villa Marina Arcade.  Len refers to this particular Organ as being his legacy.

The Villa Marina Arcade Wurlitzer Theatre Organ showing the Illuminated Organ Chambers

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In addition, Len is proud to have led the team that removed the Christie Theatre Organ from The Memorial Hall in Barry, South Wales.

Len & The Team of Volunteers who helped in the removal of the  Theatre Organ from the Hall

Len says that the removal of the Theatre Organ from the Memorial Hall in Barry was a rather sad affair despite the team looking happy.  Len added that their spirits were in need of a little lifting, hence the smiles, as they could not see any valid reason for the removal of the instrument from such a fine accoustic Hall.

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Len continues to give concerts in Cinemas and Halls where their Theatre Organs are still present.  Sadly, many of those installed in British Cinemas have, at best, been transplanted, and at worse, broken up and disposed of.  Len adds that those instruments that are being cared for and still presented to the public, are in a far better condition today than ever before.  And so, although there may not be as many Theatre Organs remaining in Cinemas and Halls, those that are still played now offer a better quality of sound than before, thereby making the artists’ performance that much more enjoyable to an audience.

Over the past two years, Len has played The Compton Theatre Organs of The Odeon Theatres of Weston Super Mare and Leicester Square (i.e. The Duchess).  Donald MacKenzie, the current resident organist of the Odeon Theatre Leicester Square, recently asked Len to deputise for him at one of the film premiers taking place at the Theatre.  In the past, the former resident organist of the Theatre, the late Gerald Shaw (1911-1974), invited Len to play concerts with him on three occasions.

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Len gave his most recent performance, a Podcast on January 31st 2021, from the Musical Museum at Kew. Since then all entertainment venues are closed and it is unclear when his next concert will take place.

Earlier, in 2020, Len enjoyed playing a sister Organ to the one originally installed at Wurlitzer Lodge at Neuadd Pendre Hall, Tywyn in North Wales, where of course, he feels very much at home.

The Tywyn Wurlitzer Theatre Organ

Len played the former Wurlitzer Theatre Organ (3-manuals; 9-ranks) of the Granada Theatre Woolwich which is now installed in Neuadd Pendre Hall, The Old Territorial Army Drill Hall, in Tywyn.  The Hall has recently been refurbished and a Dance Hall is now provided.

Neuadd Pendre Hall

Len says that this Theatre Organ was installed in Woolwich in 1937 and has much in common with that of the erstwhile Granada Theatre Wandsworth, which he with his father, moved and installed at Wurlitzer Lodge.

From the The Granada Theatre Woolwich Souvenir, 1937
showing Reginald Dixon (1904-1985) at the Console 

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NONE OF US ARE GETTING ANY YOUNGER