The Swale Electronic Organ Club was formed in 1976 by Ken Ratcliffe and meetings were held in the back room of the Ivy Leaf Memorial Club in Sittingbourne. At that time it was known as The Swale Amateur Organ Club and meetings consisted of a few members playing in turn on a small electronic organ which Ken brought along.
After Ken passed away, John Claridge became the new Chairman and, as soon as funds permitted, the club bought its own organ and occasionally booked professional artistes to entertain. In 1983 the venue for the club meetings was moved to the Fountain Hotel and later to the Kemsley Concert Hall.
Early in 1984 a new committee was formed headed by our present chairperson, Freda Gisby. In 1987 the Co-op provided a new venue at the Regis Suite and meetings were held there until the Suite was demolished in 1994. The club name was changed in 1990 to the present name of The Swale Electronic Organ Club.
Since 1994 meetings have been held at the Wyvern Hall, Swallows Leisure Centre, in Sittingbourne on the 4th Tuesday of every month, January to November and the second or third Tuesday in December. The club has recently changed their venue to The UK Paper Leisure Club with which they look forward to a long and happy association.
The club has gone from strength to strength, now having a membership of around 105. Members of The Swale Electronic Organ Club have enjoyed not only a variety of entertainment each month but have taken part in organised trips to organ festivals at locations all over the country.
The club meets on a Tuesday at 7.30pm
Subscription: £10.00
Members admission: £5.00
Visitors: £6.50
Unfortunately due to weather conditions we have decided to cancel our January concert meeting tomorrow (22nd Jan 2013). David Last will now be booked for a replacement concert early next year.