THIS is a big weekend for a church near Tenbury as it moves up the gears towards Christmas.

The Birmingham University Singers are making their thirty fourth visit this weekend having only missed twice, one due to appalling weather conditions and the other due to Covid-19.

This is one of the highlights of St. Michael’s Music & Events Programme. The 26 strong choir, directed by Paul Rodmell, provide an extremely popular Carol Service at 6.30pm on Saturday evening, December 10, with Common Worship at 11am and Evensong at 3pm on Sunday.

The village take pride in welcoming the students in giving them a light lunch on their arrival. Residents provide bed and breakfast for them on the Saturday night. Sunday lunch for the students in the village hall is also part of the programme.

There had been some “crossing of fingers” that this could take place due to a degree of uncertainty as to whether the famous Father Willis Organ would be available. Organs need a lot of air. Instead of old handpumps electric blowers have taken over. The former one, of notable vintage but noisy, was located outside.

These days quieter electric motors have been developed and a firm in Germany was producing units suitable for use within churches. The College Society, comprising old boys and friends, decided to raise money to replace the ancient blowers.

As well as benefitting the organ, it would avoid huge amounts of ice-cold air being pumped into the church in wintertime defeating any attempt at heating the building. This was doubly annoying as new efficient boilers had only been installed three years ago.

The appeal for New Lungs for the Organ was an amazing success and helped to raise £22,000. Consequently, an order was placed with the German company by Nicholsons of Malvern who maintain the organ and who would be responsible for installing the blowers.

Then came a lucky escape. With a week to go before sending off the cheque in March 2021, the German company went into liquidation. Eventually, Nicholsons located a company in Hungary who could provide the special blowers so all ends well although the installation was far from easy.

Now for the big night on Saturday when it is hoped the old church will be packed.