LOCALS and visitors turned out for the first in a series of summer organ recitals at St Ia’s Parish Church.

The recital was given by Jeffrey Williams, the church’s resident organist and director of music, who put the 1907 Hele Organ through its paces in a widely varied programme of German, French and English music.

Retiring donations towards the organ restoration fund totalled over £130, and, the following day, the St Ives Town Council agreed a donation of £1,000 to the fund as part of its Community Grant Scheme.

Jeffrey said: “We are now within £10,000 of the total needed and with further recitals, concerts and fund-raising events still being planned, we hope to reach the target in time for the work planned for 2027 to coincide with the organ’s 120th anniversary. Copies of the newly-produced booklet about the history of the St Ia organ are now available from the church.”

The next recital at St Ia will be on Wednesday, June 25 at 1.15pm and will be given by Jeremy Wan, the organ scholar at Truro Cathedral.

Jeremy’s programme will feature organ works by Buxtehude, and Ad Wammes, and transcriptions for the organ of music by Debussy and Bach. Entry is free with retiring donations to the organ fund.