A RARE Victorian pipe organ soon to be moved to the Welsh border has been given a special send-off at its Herefordshire home.

A unique Bevington organ was given as a gift by Holmer Church to the town of Hay-on-Wye, as members felt the elaborate instrument was going to waste.

It is thought the move could even kick-start the creation of a regular music festival in the town.

The Bevington will be dismantled in Holmer and its ornate case taken to St Mary’s Church in Hay in early December, should a Heritage Lottery grant be secured.

The instrument itself will make the move via a Worcester workshop to make it capable of playing any tune written for the organ.

Retired Hereford Cathedral organist Dr Roy Massey is one of several high-profile backers of an appeal to raise the £130,000 needed to complete the organ’s move to Hay.

Its patron is cellist Julian Lloyd Webber and its president is Kirsty Williams, the Welsh Assembly Member for Brecon and Radnorshire.

Appeal co-ordinator Rita Tait said £42,000 had already been raised and was hoping her application for £50,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund was successful.

“The organ will be placed in St Mary’s Church although it will be something for the whole town to enjoy,” she said. “It was not designed for a church originally, but we like something a bit over-the-top. It’s our bit of ecclesiastical bling.”

For more details, or to contribute to the appeal, email Rita Tait at bronyddrt@btconnect.com