MELKSHAM Electronic Organ Club has announ-ced that it will be closing at the end of this year, due to a lack of support.
The club, which started in 1984, will hold its last event in December before disbanding.
Stage manager and member for 20 years, Patrick Mitchell, believes a combination of factors have led the club to struggle.
Patrick said, “It’s a great shame that we’re having to stop running the club after 33 years, but there’s no support for it now. Member numbers are dwindling and the committee members are aging, but nobody wants to take their places.
“We’ve found it very difficult to attract new members, and other clubs in the area report similar problems. There has been a big change in how people choose to spend their free time.
“Most of our members are from the Melksham area, and some of them have been members since the club began over 30 years ago.
“Betty Stone, along with her late husband Chris, was one of the original founders of the club at the Rachel Fowler Centre, and is still with us as chairlady today.
“I don’t think many of us will go on to join another club, so we will have lost what was a great social occasion; it’s very disappointing.”
The Melksham Electronic Organ Club currently has around 80 members, and hosts monthly meetings and regular concerts at the Assembly Hall, showcasing organists from across the country.
The club has three remaining concerts; Robert Wolfe on Tuesday 20th October, David Thomas on Tuesday 17th November, and Andrew Nix on Tuesday 8th December.
For more details contact club secretary Eileen Hale on 01225 702110.
