Jeff (Ginger) Jefferies.

Jeff lived with his wife at 20 Hillbrow Close.  He fought in the second World War in North Africa.  The picture here show the Guildford Salvation Army Band playing outside his house.  This was arranged by his army friend living in Australia, Alan Nutter.  Allan arranged it in memory of Jeff’s trek across the North African Desert during the war to visit him when he had appendicitis.

 

Ivan Johnson

Ivan and Joan married in 1953 and set up home in Ryde’s Hill.  They preferred the services at St. Alban’s Wood Street becoming the organist in 1953. He formally retired after nearly 50 years playing in 2003, but played at his granddaughter Rebecca’s wedding in 2011 aged 89. During Ivan’s time there have been 16 curates and five different church organs.

Before 1954:  A reed organ with two manuals and a paddle board, blown by a handle.  The blower regularly blown by Vi Thorn, poultry farmer and stalwart of the church.

1954-1974:  A Martinette Model B by Miller Organ Co. of Norwich, donated by Crosby Cooke of the village.  This was moved into the new church building in 1967.

1974-1989:  A Compton Organ was bought second hand, 7 years old, from a Sherbourne church. This had three ( keyboards) manuals and pedals with about 25 speaker stops.   In 1988 during a St. Alban’s day Eucharist it suffered noisy electrical faults, needing replacing.

1989-1999:  The Compton Organ was traded in for an Allen Computer Organ Model ADC 220, It has two manuals and a pedalboard with eight speaker stops on the Great Manual, 10 on the Swell, and eight on the pedals.  Other electronic instruments can be connected via a MIDi digital interface. The Viscount box allowed snatches of such works as Mendelssohn’s Wedding March with ‘no hands’.

Mary Joan Johnson was a gifted lady and musician active in all areas of Parish Life. She was an Enrolling member of the Mother’s Union and a keen worker in the local Mother Thereas’s support Group.  She had met Ivan in Calcutta while Ivan was stationed nearby.

 

 

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