A FAMOUS pipe organ used throughout 30 years of radio broadcasts and recordings could find a new home in Tavistock.

The eight-pipe Compton organ was housed in the Royal/ABC Cinema in Plymouth, until its removal in February 2006. It was destined to be installed at Trinity Music College's concert hall at Blackheath in London, but the project has fallen foul of financial cuts and is now up for disposal.

Robin Roper, chairman of the Tamar Organ Club, has written to Tavistock Town Council, in the hope councillors would agree to its installation in the town hall.

Mr Roper said: 'The organ is acclaimed as one of the finest built by the John Compton Organ Company, with tones ranging from the grand and stately to the sweet and mellow.

'It would fill the town hall with its majestic and sonorous tones in the same way it was heard in its original home in Plymouth and would once again entertain new and old audiences, including the many who remember the organ when at the ABC, and from its radio broadcasts on the BBC.

'We do need to move with some urgency to try and secure it, as being the famous quality instrument it is, it may be snapped up by another buyer, possibly taking it overseas, which would be a great shame.'

Mr Roper said the organ club was installing a similar instrument at Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre at Lifton, and hoped it could part-fund the Compton organ's removal to Tavistock, and find matched funding for the project.

Cllr Ted Sherrell, during last week's meeting of the town council's properties committee, remembered the organ from the old ABC days and said it was 'quite magnificent'.

'There are all sorts of possibilities here, but this offer is extraordinarily short on financial detail, which makes one a little nervous,' said Cllr Sherrell.

'One suspects it could involve quite considerable expense — the devil is in the detail and we need to know a huge amount more of what's involved.'

Cllr David Whitcomb said: 'I got very excited when I read about this, it's a wonderful opportunity and I think it would be very good for the town, but we do need to ask for more information regarding the funding available.'

Cllr Mandy Govier said: 'Why isn't it going to Plymouth City Council? Is it because of finances? It seems a little strange for it to come to Tavistock.'

Cllr Debo Sellis said: 'It's certainly a mighty thing, it's rather big and I do wonder whether we would actually be able to house it. I wonder if a site visit might be a good idea.'

Cllr Harry Smith, chairman of the finance committee, said: 'We need some lifetime costings for this. It's a very fine instrument but it would need a lot of looking after.'

The committee agreed the clerk should ask the Tamar Organ Club for further information before investigating the offer any further.