'I've played Blackpool Tower's organ for 50 years'

Organist Phil Kelsall says he has "learned a few little tricks" during more than half a century of performing at Blackpool Tower.

Having started working there in 1975, he became the principal organist two years later and has been entertaining thousands of visitors to the famous ballroom ever since.

The Wurlitzer organ - now 90 years old - has featured on countless radio and television shows including BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing.

Engineers are now due to give the organ its full annual service and ensure it is ready for the coming season.

"It needs constant maintenance," Kelsall explained to BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Things start to wear out - springs get loose and keys get loose especially on the pedal board... they start to rattle - you can hear them.

"It's very complex and it's also labour intensive. It's not something you can do in a day - it takes weeks.

"There's not many people left in the world who can do it - it's a very specialised occupation, is organ building."

Kelsall said he got the Wurlitzer bug as a young boy after hearing the legendary Reginald Dixon play it.

Dixon was principal organist at Blackpool Tower for 40 years from 1930 to 1970.

Over the years, Kelsall has recorded dozens of albums and his services to music were recognised with an MBE in 2010.

The organ is stored under the stage in the ballroom. Each day it rises up on a hydraulic platform while being played.

Kelsall said: "I do sometimes think, as I'm halfway through the stage, what a strange way of earning a living!"

The musician said he believed it was the most played organ in the world, since it is used for three or four hours a day.

The Wurlitzer has 1,000 pipes of different sizes which use compressed air to produce sound.

"I still get a thrill just sitting at this instrument, which is world famous," said Kelsall.

"The acoustics here in the ballroom are just superb and it just lends itself to an instrument such as this.

"When you hear it there is no mistaking where you are. It's just an amazing part of Blackpool, along with the trams and the tower and everything else."

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