MAGDALEN College in Oxford offered to give its chapel organ free to anyone willing to dismantle and cart it away in May 1985.

The 25-foot high organ loomed over the mid-15th century splendour of Magdalen’s tiny chapel.

One major problem with the organ was its poor sound. Despite its vast bulk, the music was so diffused by the chapel stonework that the choir had difficulty distinguishing the notes.

Dr John Harper, pictured, was reluctant to throw away the organ and its scrap metal value was estimated at only £1,500 at the time.

So he decided to advertise it in the Times with the hope of someone to claim it and take it away.