Hi to all you MMD-ers!  When I joined the MMD recently, I said to Jody
I didn't expect to appear in print, but I've now realised after seeing
the variety of the interesting messages you all send that I have the
perfect opportunity to do so.

I am the secretary of the Player Piano Group, the largest and oldest
established of our pianola societies here in the UK, established in
1959 by Frank Holland (who also founded the Musical Museum at Brent-
ford, London).  As you can see, we are 40 years old this year, and
shall be celebrating the fact soon by getting a web site -- if we
can find any information not already used by our (and your) member
Ian McLaughlin!

Immediate celebrations, however, are what I want to tell you about,
for on Saturday 8th May we are hiring historic Sutton House (the oldest
house in London, we are told) and holding our Annual General Meeting
and Dinner, together with seminars looking back on roll recording
artists and forward to a revolutionary new mechanism for roll-playing
instruments, a retrospective to celebrate the Duo-Art Concerts we have
given, as well as a Gala Concert given by our President, the
distinguished Concert Pianist Dr. Peter Katin.

Unfortunately, as we are almost full already, I cannot invite you all
to come, but if any group or individual would care to send a goodwill
message via me <anthonyaustin@lineone.net> to be displayed or read out
on our Celebration Day, it would help to ensure things get off to an
wonderful start.

Hoping to meet you all on the Internet at least,

Tony Austin