"CULTURALLY, Weston-super-Mare has much to celebrate following the Coronation of HM King Charles III on Saturday, with Weston-born Nigel Hess being one of a handful of this country’s leading composers being commissioned to write music for the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey.

"That said, a growing number of my eminent colleagues within the music profession share my concern for the future of the historic and world-famous Compton pipe organ which is in the town’s Odeon cinema.

"The organ is one of just two Compton cinema pipe organs in the country still in use in the location for which it was built, the other being in the Odeon Cinema, Leicester Square in London.

"Whilst there is no doubt the sad decision to close this iconic landmark Odeon Cinema makes financial sense, assurance is needed from Odeon Cinemas and the town’s council that they will work to ensure a worthy home can be found for this historic instrument.  Once, Weston boasted three pipe organs by the world-famous Compton organ builders.

"One was in the now closed Victoria Methodist Church, and the second is in extremely poor condition in All Saints’ Church.

"The organ in the Odeon Cinema is of real cultural importance, and there is a duty of care for those responsible to ensure it can continue to entertain audiences in a new home."

Jonathan Manners