about

Nelson Electronic Organ & Keyboard Club

History

The history of the Nelson Electronic Organ and Keyboard Club stretches back to the late 1970’s. One of our Life Members, Valerie Andrews, remembers being introduced to the Organ Club by Bill Moulder, who was the owner of Beggs Music Shop, back in 1980. He had started the Club, and when she joined there was a membership of around 15. The monthly meetings were held at the YMCA, which was in Bridge St. opposite the Suburban Bus Station. The Club was there for quite a few years until the building was demolished. We then moved to the Assembly of God Hall in 17 Halifax St, next to Ford Motors. Several years were spent there until we moved to the Stoke School Hall. During the Covid era we could not use the school so moved to our current location, the Baptist Church Hall on Main Road, Stoke.

Activities

We have held four conventions in Nelson. The first one was held at the Masonic Lodge Hall in Nile St. At the time our president was Heather Thomas and the year was 1984. (Valerie always remembers that date as their first grandson was born that weekend). The second was in 2003 at the Waimea Town and Country Club in Richmond and the third was in 2009 at the Nelson Suburban Club. Our latest venture was in 2012 at the Tahunanui Conference Centre.

Our Leaders

We have had several Presidents.

Bill Moulder, from Beggs Music Shop.

Brian Gourley from Nelson Music Centre.

Heather Thomas, Valerie Andrews for about 15 or so years.

Ian Tetlow (who sadly passed away in office in 2009),

Brian Sutton and Maureen Sidwell.

Our current President is Warren Fenemor.

We have had some wonderful years of music and friendship. We now have two life members, Valerie Andrews and our current president Warren Fenemor, who is always there to help us if needed. He has been a member since 1986 when he opened a music shop in Nelson.

Instruments

In the early days the music shops (Beggs, Nelson Music Centre and Fenemors Music Centre) would provide an organ for the members to play on. When keyboards arrived on the scene some members moved from organs to keyboards. This trend has continued until now when only a few of our members own organs. The Club purchased a Yamaha HC4 organ so we didn't have to rely on the stores to bring one along. We then bought a keyboard as some members could not play the organ. Currently we have a Yamaha PSR910. In 2019 we purchased a new Yamaha PSR 975 so we now have 2 to choose from.