Peter Adams, Organist

I was rather chuffed with myself for instigating my encounter with Jim yesterday and the resulting portrait, so the afternoon tootled along nicely into the start of the weekend. The air of success followed me to skittles that evening, with an opening round of 12 and top team scores for both halves. All was favourably rounded off with more beer and brother Steve at the Bear, Barston.

Come this morning, Cath was taking her mother to the doctors about her arthritis. So I decided to spend a few hours in south Warwickshire, and found myself in Ilmington. Taking the first ascending footpath off the road called Campden Hill, I soon had a vantage east over the the plains of Warwickshire, to Tredington, Brailes, Oxhill and so forth. Below were the cheers and commands of a boys footie match. 'Close him down, close him down' was one of the more common ones. Goals seemed to come at the pace of one every five minutes.

Moving on, I gained a path to the early 17th century property known as Lower Lark Stoke, near Admington. From there I joined Park Road. Having earlier decided that once at Park Road I would descend, viewing the topography, as is my wont, I elected to climb. The road gave me views to the southern slopes of Meon Hill and the brightly lit spire of St. Swithin's, Quinton.

Turning about, the variety of cloud formation was quite outstanding. From cirrocumulus stratiformis to tall cumulus, so the guide book tells me.

Returning to Ilmington, I entered the churchyard. On a stone shelf in the corner of the porch, a variety of fruits had been arranged, no doubt to commemorate Harvest Sunday. As I was kneeling to take a study of the fruits, the organ within struck up a fanfare. There was no sign of a bride. I stepped inside and found I was alone with the organist. The organ was a three manual with extensive bass pedals. He was belting out something grand by Bach.

Once he'd finished I sidled up next to him and applauded his performance. He bashfully remarked he needed more practice. I took my chance and asked for a photograph. He offered to play as I did so.

So here is Peter Adams upon the organ of St Mary the Virgin, Ilmington, Warwickshire, in a performance of the Toccata and Fugue in F major, BWV 540, by Johann Sebastian Bach.

The piece. Check the throaty bass from the very first bar.