Untitled Document

(Return to "Sharon and the 'Coudrey' Family History" albumn)

(Return to "Sharon and the 'Knowles' Family History" albumn)

(Return to "Semaphore Baptist Church and The Coudrey Family" page)

Tanya and Brett's ... Grand-Parents (Coudrey)

Ronald Hill Coudrey and Laurel Margaret Coudrey (nee Knowles)

Married on Saturday 1st February 1941

Semaphore Baptist Church ... Adelaide South Australia

NOTE - there are a number of large photos on this page ... it will take a few extra seconds to completely download

A note from Geoff

We have recently researched the Semaphore Baptist Church
and the part it played in the early lives of the Coudrey family

The details and photos can be seen via the link at the top of this page

In the "Recollections from Sharon ... Part Two" section on that page, Sharon writes:
"Very early on my Dad was the 'organ boy'
I'm not sure of his age
but he had to sit behind and pump the organ each Sunday during Services"

She told me that when she was a little girl
she was shown what else Ronald used to get up to in behind the organ !!

Apparently one of the Sunday Services must have been a bit long and a bit slow
and he was looking for something to do
Checking his pockets, he found a pocket knife ... so what else could a boy in love do ??

While the Minister was droning on, he carved ...
RC
L
LK
... into the back on the organ

Without Sharon knowing, I decided to track down this piece of "graffiti / vandalism"
which has now become a fabulous part of the Coudrey Family History !!

As mentioned on the page referred to above, the Church is now 'For Sale'
but fortunately, the organ is still in place

I wrote to the Estate Agents and they were happy for someone
to come along with a camera ...... and the story continues below ...

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Ronald and Laurel ... during 1935

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A note from Deane Hutton ... Monday 9th August 2010

Hi Geoff

I've been down to the Semaphore Baptist Church to check out the pipe organ
We have some good news and some bad news!

First - the GOOD NEWS

At the back of the pipe organ, there are definitely many carved initials
Included among them are - E.S., D.D., J.Mc., W.D., R.H., L.G. and A.S.B.
I guess all the organ pumping boys wanted to leave their mark
Also, there is a very clear "J. C."
Perhaps Jesus Christ was there to help with the church music!!
And, of course, the initials "R.C." show that Ron Coudrey did leave a message

Now - the BAD NEWS

Originally, the pipe organ was hand-pumped
The large wooden lever at the back shows how this was done by those energetic young men
However, in the 1930s, an electric air pump was added
The pump was located in the room below the church and a wide-diameter air hose was connected to the back of the organ
Obviously, the workmen had to cut an opening in the timber back of the organ to fit the air inlet
By chance, this opening was cut out immediately below the "R.C." initials, removing the rest of Ron's message "L. L.K." ("loves Laurel Knowles")

I guess part of the message is better than nothing at all
And, of course, we all know that Ron did love Laurel dearly

I hope that this sheds some light on the family story

I will attach photos of the church, the organ, the hand-pumping lever and carved initials

Kind regards ... Deane

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Semaphore Baptist Church ...

... and the Organ

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The lever of the original hand operated pump

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"The Organ Boy's Honour Board"

... and their "Major Sponsor" !!

??--HEAVENLY--??----------??--HUMAN--??

A note from Lesley on Tuesday 10th August 2010
I think the 'JC' is actually 'JG' and stands for Jessie George
Get Rex to ask her ... Lesley

and the reply from Rex
Jess has been here for lunch and we showed her all the organ information
She was most interested
As a young girl (ten to twelve years old) at choir practice with her parents,
she can remember sitting at the back and watching the young teenage Ronald pumping the organ
And yes, his carvings did include her ... 'JG' for Jessie George !!
Cheers

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" R. C. "

Originally, the pipe organ was hand-pumped.
The large wooden lever at the back shows how this was done by those energetic young men.
However, in the 1930s, an electric air pump was added and this pump was located in the room below the church and a wide diameter air hose was connected to the back of the organ.
Obviously, the workmen had to cut an opening in the timber back of the organ to fit the air inlet.
By chance, this opening was cut out immediately below the "R.C." initials, removing the rest of Ron's message 'L. L.K.'
(loves Laurel Knowles)