KHPC Fabric Team

It's Official! October is a Wet and Windy Month. This last week in October has once again turned out to be one of strong gales with lots of rain.  Convoluted Drainpipes!  It's amazing how easy it is to check, when you consider that this is the 3rd October that I've been blogging about  the Fabric of KH, I can hardly believe it. For various reasons, today was actually  the first day that I ventured out this week, and I was delighted to see an old friend of KH getting ready to 'do his stuff'; clearing out all the drains within the grounds. Many will be glad to see that the Car Park no longer has a small lake in the bottom corner.  I commented to Alastair of 'Surface Contracts' that it was a horribly rainy day, to which he replied that they tended to get wet and muddy anyway, so the weather didn't really make much difference.  Still rather them than me. Anyway it's all timed nicely for anot...

At last some good news in the Financial world. The official announcement from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport follows: " The Department has announced that the LPW scheme will continue for a further 4 years from April 2011. There will be an annual fixed maximum budget of £12 million, and the Department will discuss with faith groups and denominations how the scheme can best operate within that budget. The restriction to scope already announced from 4 January will remain in place- professional fees, and repairs to clocks, pews, bells and organs, will remain ineligible from 1 April. Further announcements will be made in due course." What does this mean? For us at KH, it means that we can reclaim the VAT paid on every repair we carry out to the main structure of the Building. A very important consideration when you realise that VAT is to increase to 20% in January 2011. Despite the financial restrictions which are in place, this does show that the Government recognises...

Last Saturday's 'Festive Trumpets' Concert was, by all accounts, a success. The sounds from Mark and Hedley's trumpets filled the space around us ; yet never strident or overbearing, and the performance of Faure's Cantique dueting with the violins was truly beautiful. Once more KH showed its worth as a performance space. Afterwards the hall downstairs fairly buzzed with a happy audience enjoying cake and coffee.   An atmospheric view of the Organ Pipes in the tower   The week following the trumpets seems to have been  full of pipes and tubes of differing types. At KH we had to deal with an old leak in a cast-iron heating pipe and also the gas supply pipes under the Hall Floor.  The October School Holiday week gave us a few extra time slots when the upheaval and lack of heating wouldn't affect anyone greatly.  The various sets of workmen have been  able to complete everything before the Weekend which is of course w...

A holiday for some only. The building is so busy during the week that, it makes sense to try and get as much maintenance work done during any holiday time. This means that the way is clear for workmen to move around the building with ease. Although I must say that , at the last count there were, I think 3 different groups all scheduled to be in KH next week. All of them have different tasks to complete, just keep your fingers crossed that all goes smoothly! And that list doesn't include the chap who's going to be outside, dealing with the Land Drains! But before all that we have our Festive Trumpets Concert on Saturday Night. One to really enjoy!

There has been a late addition to the Programme for the Concert on Saturday 9th.October. Apart from getting all excited by the thought of two fabulous trumpeters visiting KH. Two fabulous violinists are also joining the line-up. Mark O'Keeffe has arranged a piece by Faure, for Horns and Violins; so Jane and Wilson Hainey from the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra will be playing with Mark and Hedley on Saturday night. Wow! What more can I say?

Another One? Twice in one week? After neglecting to Blog for so long?   I ask you? What is the special occasion? Must be something important. YES. Open Doors 2010 was a success, for all of Glasgow I believe, it was certainly a good turn out here at KH. Despite the fact a 'little' more rain fell on Sunday we still had an incredibly diverse and interesting day. However to the reason for blogging so soon; I have just confirmed the 'Festive Trumpets' Concert, here in KH on Saturday 9th.October. Make sure it's in your diaries, a concert which is a little different from the mostly choral ones we've held  before. Those of you who attended the Re-dedication Service for the Teacher Memorial Window back in April 2009, will surely remember the haunting notes of the Last Post, played by Mark O'Keeffe, Principal Trumpet with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. I said then that I hoped that we would hear him play again in the Church. Hurrah! and he's bringing some ...

Peek-a-boo! Oops! I've been remiss, and haven't blogged for a while now---but I'm back and wow! 'Doors Open Day' and the initial forecast for the Saturday was Heavy Rain! Then it changed last night and a light rain shower was spoken off. This duly dropped on us this morning and then BLUE SKIES !  Standing in the doorway I looked up at a crystal clear sky and there, looking down on us was one of KH's resident Gargoyles.  Almost as if he was laughing at us.  We were certainly smiling at him. A day with some old and also hopefully new friends.  A church dressed to celebrate Harvest.  The Old Father Willis Organ behaving impeccably as the first of our organists entertained us with a selection of music. There were Talks including: 'Restoration of the Fleche' 'Glass Walls' 'Flights of Fancy' and 'How to read THIS Church' (You could choose to have Coffee and Home-baking before or after) Many chose to stay with us for quite some time e...