A Lake District church has worked to restore a 100-year-old organ to honour of an ambulance driver who died in the First World War. Nellie Taylor was a military ambulance driver who died in France in 1918 during active service.

The II/28 1923 organ was donated to St Oswald’s Church in Ambleside by the Taylor family. The organ, built by Leeds firm J. J. Binns, was a gift in memory of their daughter, who was a talented musician.

The three manual organ was altered by the London firm of J.W. Walker & Sons during an overhaul in 1964. Nicholson & Co have undertaken the current work which has involved thoroughly cleaning the organ internally, restoring the keyboards and pedalboard, repairing the leatherwork, reinforcing the organ case and much more.

The pipework is also being cleaned and restored, retaining the successful alterations of 1964. All of the soundboards and chests are being renovated, and its primary actions converted from pneumatic to electro-pneumatic. The console is also being restored.

The work was partly funded by the War Memorial's Trust with the church creating a fundraiser to raise £150,000 for its restoration. 

Ian Hare, chairman of the Cumbrian Society of Organists, who has performed at the Royal Alber Hall, said: "This work is the fruit of seven years of planning and fund-raising by the local community, and has been carried out by the leading firm of Nicholson & Co. Ltd. of Malvern.

"On 30th September the official reopening recital will be given by Dr James Lancelot, former organist of Durham Cathedral, and the following morning there will be a service of rededication by the Bishop of Penrith, with the singing led by members of the Keswick Choral Society.

"This will be almost exactly a hundred years after the original dedication of this fine organ, built by the prominent northern organ builder J. J. Binns."

To find out more about the St Oswald's church's organ appeal and , please visit the website.