James Noyce Obituary, Death Cause – It is with great sadness that we wish to inform you of the passing on Easter Monday of showman and organ owner James (Jim / Jimmy) Noyce. Jimmy will be remembered by many of our listeners as the owner of a magnificent 98 key replica Marenghi fairground organ built for him by Andrew Whitehead and which he travelled widely attending many events including being a regular at the Great Dorset Steam Fair.
The gallopers are well known for the superb 89 key Gavioli organ at their centre, regarded as one of the best organs still in use on the fairground today. This is partly due to the care and attention Jim lavished on the instrument for many years, always ensuring it was maintained to the highest standard. Jim never lost his love of the fairground organ and prior to his retirement he had commissioned Andrew Whitehead to build the 98 key replica Marenghi for which Jim then took great pride in building a magnificent front, decorating it and fitting the organ into a display vehicle he had adapted himself.
He was justly famous for having presented what many regard as the finest set of galloping horses in the UK, “Noyce’s Golden Gallopers” at fairs up and down the country for many years. This he did with his brother Tommy following in the footsteps of their father before them. Jim retired in the late 1990s, his brother carrying on the family business until his death three years ago and now the roundabout is in the hands of Tommy’s son, Joe.
The visual presentation was always of utmost importance to him as can be seen from the photo. Anyone who has attended the open days at The Amersham Fair Organ Museum in recent years will know Jimmy was a regular attendee, his uncanny good luck in the raffle draws is the stuff of legend! A great character with a wicked sense of humour and always a twinkle in his eye for the ladies, he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.