Warm weather brings in work for church organ team

Principal Pipe Organs, a six-strong team of organ builders and restorers run by York-based couple Geoffrey and Pam Coffin, is being called out to churches up and down the country as the rising temperatures mean organs quickly fall out of tune.

Geoffrey, who founded the company in 1983 and restored York Minster’s historic organ 10 years later, said: “At this time of year we are working around the countryside as far away as Scotland and the south of England.

“We have also been doing a lot of work around North Yorkshire.

“I am in my 60s now and I have been working with pipe organs now for the best of my life.”

Most organs need to be re-tuned at least twice a year during winter and spring as the air temperature affects the wind blowing over the reeds in the organ pipes.

Damp and humidity also have an impact.

Geoffrey worked at York Minster throughout the 1970s as an assistant to Dr Francis Jackson, organist and master of music at the Minster for 36 years.