The South Wessex Organ Society is a registered charity and the successor to the well-established Lyme Regis Organ School. The Society has access to the beautiful Skrabl organ in St Michael’s Church, Lyme Regis with its 50-rank, three-manual mechanical action, and to many other fine organs in Devon and Dorset. It exists to encourage organ playing and the appreciation of the organ’s place in the musical repertoire.
The Society’s purpose is realised through recitals, concerts and organ courses and by encouraging young organists on their journey.
Chairman – Philip Sturrock MBE
Philip Sturrock was born in Lancashire and has lived in the West Midlands, St
Albans, London, and now in Bridport, Dorset. He read modern history at Oxford
and has an MBA from the Manchester Business School.
Mr Sturrock’s professional career has been in book publishing. He has been CEO
of IBIS information Services, Pitman Books, Routledge, Cassell and Continuum. In
1994 he led the IPO of Cassell on the London Stock Exchange before selling it to
Hachette in 1998.
Following his publishing career he has been chair of the United St Saviour’s
Charity in Southwark, chair of the Wandle Housing Association and chair of the
governors at Queen Mary’s Grammar School in Walsall. In addition he has been a
member of the Industrial Development Advisory Board at the Department of
Business and the Investment Panel of the British Business Bank. He is a trustee
of the Southwark Cathedral Development Fund and a member of the Salisbury
Diocese Investment Panel. He is currently treasurer of University College
London and a member of its governing council.
In the Queen’s Birthday Honours of 2014 Philip was appointed MBE for “services to
business, charity and community in SE London.” He is married to Madeleine
(Mandi) and has three married children.
Artistic Director – Peter Lea-Cox
Peter Lea-Cox studied organ at the R.A.M. before becoming Assistant Music Master at Oundle School, Northants. In 1973 he returned to the R.A.M. combining administrative work with teaching Choral Conducting, Sight Singing and Keyboard Skills. Simultaneously, he was Director of Music at St. Jude-on-the Hill, NW11 and started a monthly Bach Cantata Series of concerts in the City of London.
In 1987, he was appointed Cantor of the Lutheran Church of St. Anne & St. Agnes where in conjunction with his Choir and Orchestra, the Lecosaldi Ensemble, he inaugerated the highly successful Bach Vespers Services, placing the designated Cantata in the proper context of Worship.
For many years he was an ABRSM examiner and he also toured Denmark and the U.S.A. giving organ concerts.