Pictures
See leader article

• Paul Gee at Clayton
• Douglas Bell's reaction on hearing our president play a C-major scale at Marsden
• President-Elect Malcolm Cruise prepares for his Gillette advert
• Huddersfield Friends of Church Music in full voice at St.John's Birkby

Present post: Organist Christ Church, Woodhouse.

First organ job: St Matthew's, Carver Street, Sheffield, though I had been a stand-in at St Mark's, Broomhill.

First teacher: David Butterworth at St Mary's, Nottingham, while I was an undergraduate at university there. He started me on the little Grant, Deegens and Bradbeer.

Play anything else: Piano-ish, though singing came first. I began at school where one master had been at King's under Boris Ord. We sang full choral services in chapel

Best moment: While visiting the United States, I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon on a von Beckerath in Columbus, Ohio; a marvellous, large three-manual, which would do anything. It almost played itself. Wonderful.

Oddest moment: At a wedding in Wilmslow. When I drew the swell diapason, the whole thing came out in my hand: wires, solenoid, the lot.

Greatest inspiration: Hearing Michael Nicholas play the Bach F Major Toccata and Fugue at St Matthew's, Northampton. It prompted me to start to learn the organ.

Favourite instrument: The two-manual Wood at Clayton, Manchester. It's the best small organ I have played.

Cherished recording: The Bach series by Helmut Walcha from Alkmaar.

Thought on pies: Sorry, very few.