The Queen has sent a letter granting her blessing for renovation work to begin on one of the organs at St Andrew’s Church, Deal.

The instrument at the West Street church, once stood in the childhood home of the Queen Mother.

Director of music at St Andrew’s Mark Levett said £50,000 has been raised by the church for renovations of its organs.

“The Queen has written to send her warmest good wishes for the project.

“This is very exciting news for Deal.

“We have a fine choir of over 20 musicians and the restoration of these instruments will underpin the growing musical tradition at St Andrew’s and also be of benefit to the whole town.”

Another £10,000 is still to be raised and a good deal of specialist work is still to be done by Ash Organ Builders FH Browne &Sons of Ash.

“Messages of support have also been received from the Lord Warden Admiral the Lord Boyce, MP for Dover and Deal Gwyn Prosser, and the director of the Deal Festival, and donations have come from the Earl of Clanwilliam and the Pipe Organ Preservation Trust,” Mr Levett said.