Pipe Dream

As highlighted in issue 50 of the FMT publication, the organ in Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street, London, has been extensively restored by organ builders, Harrison & Harrison of Durham. This particularly brought out a feeling of pride for 93 year old Durham Freemason Albert Nunn. Albert was born in Shildon in 1927 and on leaving school he attended commercial college and in 1946 at the age of 19 started work at Harrison & Harrison as an understudy to the company Secretary a position he advanced to in 1954. The firm had moved to Durham in 1872 from Rochdale and became world famous for producing large and distinguished instruments. Albert said he knew nothing of the reputation of the company but he quickly learnt that they built or restored most of the large Cathedral organs in England, notably Durham Cathedral, York Minster, Windsor Castle, London Royal Festival Hall, Westminster Abbey and many locations overseas. In 1986 Harrison & Harrison built the organ in West Ham Parish Church where Albert accompanied by his late wife Jennie were honoured to meet the Queen Mother. The main principals of the work has not changed in 150 years, but new techniques have evolved with modern methods of construction being introduced.

Albert was initiated in into Flambard Lodge, Durham City in 1959 having been advised by his father a Shildon mason to join a lodge in the city nearer his place of employment. Albert had to wait some 4 years on the waiting list before being invited to join which was common practice in a province of over 20,000 members and now 61 years later he still enjoys attending meetings when feeling up to it. Albert retired in 1990 after 44 years’ service at Harrison & Harrison and is proud of his association with the company.