Mike Byrne tunes in to the Exeter Electronic Organ Club.

THE sound is soft and warming, like the glowing embers of an oak wood fire, the tone, bright and lyrical and the effect mesmerising.

And that's just the soothing Scottish lilt of Maureen Grinham, whose taste-of-heather accent is music to the ears and so complements her role as secretary of the Exeter Electronic Organ Club.

Yet Maureen does not play the organ – she has a keyboard and she can tickle the ivories of her piano in Pinhoe with the best of them, but the electric organ is not an instrument she has mastered.

"I love the organ music and I have thought that I would like to take lessons, but when I see how wonderful the professional players are it makes me wonder if I could ever be good enough."

And with that a bright white Wersi Louvre, the Ferrari of electric organs, starts up under the dancing fingers of Brett Wales, a professional organist who packs them in at concerts all around Britain.

Tonight he is the guest of honour at the Exeter club's monthly meeting in Matthews Hall, Topsham, and there is no doubt that Brett, dubbed the "Boy Wonder" by those who know their organ music, is among fans.

For the club, with more than 60 members, counts some of the area's leading electric organ players among its numbers – and those who don't play know and love the music and recognise when it is in the hands of a master who been mentored by the great Klaus Wunderlich.

Maureen, a retired health visitor, has been secretary to the club for the past ten years and was a member for around six years before that.

She said: "I just love the music, and the people who share that are a wonderful group.

"The social side is very rewarding, although it's hard work being secretary. I have spent the last two days printing out posters and programmes and then setting up the hall for the monthly meeting. It is great fun and well worth it."

Working alongside Maureen is Shelagh Badcock, who handles the bookings side, bringing in the top organists who tour the country.

Said Maureen: "Shelagh goes to all the organ festivals and is able to meet all the rising stars of the organ world.

"We had Brett here when he was just 19 – what an amazing night that was."

Jill McLaughlin arrived in Exeter with the Met Office, already smitten by sound. In fact it was her second love, her husband James having introduced her to the music.

The couple were both members of an electric organ club in Ascot, Berkshire, and so when they came to Exeter the first thing they did was look up the local club – and found it at Matthews Hall. Said Jill: "James is the player and we have a Yamaha organ at home in Holcombe. I love the variety of music played. It's not just what people might think, but a whole range of music, classical, old and new, easy listening, pop music, and it really gets your toes tapping.

"The professionals who come to play are excellent and they love to meet the members, say hello and chat about the music.

"We are lucky in that we have a great crowd here too and the social side is very good."

James, who sports a keyboard tie and organ music socks, has just recorded 70 minutes of his music on a 24-track CD for friends.

"I recorded it at home. I have to say I love the music – and coming along here," he said.

But the future is not all rosy for the club, which marks its 40th anniversary this year.

President Winston Goldsworthy, who was in at the beginning back in 1972, said that membership was down to 66, having fallen from 120 in just a few short years: "Of course many of the more elderly members have passed away and we really do need some younger ones to come and join us, people in their 50s and 60s who like music."

Winston, who has been president for some eight years, has been an organ player for most of his life: "In the 1960s and '70s I use to play in clubs and pubs, basically for dancing and accompanying singers. We played Beatles' music in the Swinging Sixties and the organ was very popular with all kinds of bands.

"The music is still very much alive and very popular. We have people coming from all over Devon for our meetings and concerts."

Then the great white Wersi Louvre bursts back into life, filling the hall with music for a two-hour concert. The stage is properly dressed with lights and a mirror and performers usually remark on the excellent acoustics of the hall.

The club usually meets on the first Thursday of the month, apart from May when it changes to the second Thursday. Concerts start at 7.45pm. The next is on March 1 featuring Ian Griffin. For more information, call Maureen on 01392 466227.