A Few Practical Matters

The more observant of you will have recently noticed the extra light permeating the Longhurst Room. Yes, the double-glazed window unit in the North window has at long last been replaced following its repair to cure the breakdown in the seal.

The South window had had to be repaired in 2009; then it was early in 2010 both the West window and the North window showed signs of condensation. I was informed that the repairers would take one window away – which they did – and make two new ones – which they didn’t! The West window was replaced on 6^th September, and the North window unit was removed and the space filled with plywood.

Then, despite many telephone calls and e-mails, we had the long wait until 20^th January for the repaired unit to be replaced – a wait of 19 weeks! Thank you for your patience. At least it’s no extra cost to the church – there is a ten-year warranty on the windows!

The other new matter which has been of concern is the Public Address system in Unity Hall. As you may be aware, this equipment has three radio microphone receivers; but there are faults on the two mics, that we have..

I saw there was a sale at Maplin’s, and I noticed a 2-channel radio microphone set at a very good price – cheap and cheerful, you could call it, not very good but probably adequate for our purpose – so I bought one for the church and installed it. This was first used by Geoffrey on 16^th January, and was voted a success! A second set was got for the Longhurst Room.

Coincidentally, I noticed that one pair of the loudspeakers was not working, and I saw that there was a fault on one channel of the power amplifier; the one remaining channel being just about adequate for the service.

Then, while setting up Unity Hall for 23^rd January, I realised that the second channel had also failed – so there we were, no PA equipment. So Terry and I brought the piano through from the church, and this served well on the Sunday morning, and Helen Thorne spoke up well.

We now have a plan to get the loudspeakers checked and repaired as necessary, then move the power amplifier from the Longhurst Room to Unity Hall, which will get that system in order, using the new radio mics. The original mics. are being repaired. Then we need to get the faulty amplifier repaired and re-installed in the Longhurst Room. Phew!!

And hearing of our predicament, Sheila Carpenter has offered her keyboard— with its own loudspeakers—for our use, and hers, as she-is playing on 30th for the Morning Service. Thank you, Sheila.