Old Secundrians may recall that some years ago the school’s War Memorial Compton organ was found in store at the Baffins site. With the agreement of Portsmouth College it was “rescued” and transferred to an organ restorer in Devon with a view to it finding a new home. Since then, the restorer has worked on it but due to a variety of factors he found that it had not been possible to find a taker for it. So, some while ago the Association agreed with the restorer that he would cannibalise it and utilise parts where there was a need.

”The restorer has recently (February 2023) completed work to incorporate the largest of the organ’s pipes (the Compton Polyphone which produces a very low note providing a bass sound) into All Saints Cathedral, Nairobi, Kenya as part of a full restoration of the organ. At the Association’s request, the restorer has placed a plaque on the housing surrounding the pipe reading ‘The Compton polyphone pipe on this organ was originally part of the World War Memorial Compton organ at the Southern Grammar School for Boys, Portsmouth, England’. See the image below - also the organ stop number ‘Contra Bourdon 32’ which is the one associated with the polyphone pipe.

So, if you ever find yourself in Nairobi do go and have a look!”