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2025.03.18
4.18 Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson of St. Mary, St. Ouen and St. Peter of the Minister for Infrastructure regarding the current status of Compton Organ (OQ.62/2025):
Will the Minister explain the current status of the Compton Organ gifted to the people of Jersey in 1991 and installed in the Queen's Hall at Fort Regent and advise what plans, if any, are in place to ensure its preservation and protection following the announcement that the Fort will close at the end of the year?
Connétable A.N. Jehan of St. John (The Minister for Infrastructure):
I thank the Deputy for her question. I can confirm that the Compton Organ is currently still located in the Queen's Hall at Fort Regent. I am aware of the years of restoration that were undertaken before the organ was moved from the old Forum Cinema and installed in the Queen's Hall in 1991. My understanding is that regrettably the organ has sat dormant and not been maintained for the best part of 20 years. We do recognise, however, that the organ is a special, complex and sizeable instrument and as part of the regeneration of Fort Regent we will need to identify a suitable location or relocation for the Compton Organ.
- Deputy L.K.F. Stephenson :
I appreciate the Minister's response there because the Compton Organ has been a part of Jersey's musical history since 1934. Would the Minister join me in thanking Islander Malcolm L'Amy and his family and those others who did gift the organ to the Island and reassure them that the way the organ has been perhaps ignored and left for many years does not mean their gift is not appreciated and valued?
The Connétable of St. John :
Absolutely. I would be very happy to join the Deputy in thanking that family for their significant contribution and I recognise the importance of this instrument to the Island's history. Recently I attended the Steam Museum at Trinity and saw a number of fantastic examples of organs there which the public are able to go and see but I would like to see these instruments being played and people enjoying them. We are fully committed to preserving and protecting the organ and this requirement is known by both Jersey Property Holdings and our partners, S.o.J.D.C.
- Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade :
Would the Minister consider arranging for the organ to perhaps come up through the ground and start playing a tune in the event that anybody is caught speeding through the tunnel under Fort Regent? [Laughter]
The Connétable of St. John :
What a great Radio 2 link between 2 questions. [Laughter] I think we will have to leave that. Perhaps with time
The Deputy Bailiff :
Very happily, it is the last question we have time for. The Connétable of St. John :
With time the Deputy may think of other suggestions. The Deputy Bailiff :
That concludes the 2 hours and 20 minutes allotted for oral questions on notice and accordingly written responses must be provided to the outstanding questions to the Greffier for distribution as soon as possible. We now move to questions without notice and the first period of questions is for the Minister for the Environment and the first question is from Deputy Ozouf .
THE STATES noted that, in accordance with Standing Order 63(9), a written response would be provided to the following oral questions that had not been asked during the time allowed at the meeting –