A 50 year history of popular concerts has come to an end - with the news that the historic Compton cinema organ at Old Windsor Memorial Hall has failed a safety inspection and must be removed.

The announcement was made this week by the Windsor Organ Trust.

The organ used to have pride of place at the ABC cinema, Old Kent Road after being built in 1937.

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When it was put up for sale Old Windsor resident Ted Lawrence formed a group of enthusiasts who removed it themselves in 1966 and brought it to Old Windsor, where a special chamber was built at the Memorial Hall to keep it.

It cost £250 and took two years to restore, attracting famous players to entertain local organ lovers ever since.

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There have been four concerts a year and an annual open day allowing enthusiasts the rare chance to play an authentic cinema organ.

But in 2019 an electrician inspecting wiring at the hall condemned the organ, which had used cotton wiring for its relay control system main cable.

National safety regulations had been amended in the 1990s and it was realised the organ now controvened them.

Ted Lawrence died in 1982 and only three of the original working party survive. But the 80 year old organ has been kept up by dedicated enthusiasts ever since.

A statement released this week by the Organ Trust said: "It has not proved practical for is to rewire the organ, so we will remove the instrument when the Coronavirus allows, hopefully to an venue where the organ can be played again."