The organist librarian

Good chat to Ann. Trains affected by signals failure and came back on buses. St John's Caterham fete. Several people had a go on the organ. Good to meet people. Gave Jonathan Heaton a lot of Paul's organ muisc - Marilyn Harper is his teacher. Nice hot dog and bought an elephant which needed a wash, watercolour pencils and cakes. To Mass at St Edmund's Beckenham (recorded music from Handel's Messiah cut off short - it's like slashing a masterpiece). A good homily from Fr Beck. Appeal from finance committee. To St George's Beckenham for the Sixteen Palestrina, Allegri and best of all James MacMillan. Saw Janey Maxwell and her Mum, Ian, Nick Wibberley and his fiancé. A good audience too but such a pity the programme had no texts and translations.

Swam and Mass for Peter and Paul. More library work. 500s in order hard work.  Frida Kahlo at V and A sold out today so went to The future starts here which is fascinating. Model of social housing in our high street! Driverless car, robots doing the laundry, also the worrying invasion of our private lives and freezing bodies. Jamaal prize 5 impressive. A delightful and delicious dinner at St Vincent's school to thank the volunteers. 

Swam, Mass, art and did 2 sketches. Julie kindly brought a book of post Holocaust art. Big funeral at Bensham Community Centre with white hearse and White horses. To interfaith lunch. Elizabeth to complete DBS for Lourdes and Bishop John said hello. To Royal Academy summer exhibition and schools. Feel sorry for artists who's pictures end up at the top of a wall. Some good stuff, some funny, some overpriced rubbish especially the horrible fibreglass of the Queen. In the Royal Academy of all places! Liked the bronze of the Queen Mother. Lovely exhibition of the history of the summer exhibition. Glorious Turners, Laura Knight, etc. Why do people buy this stuff? Swept patio and watered garden. Question time and cruise liners in Orkney, also celebrities and the NHS. 

To Balham library to get scores. Greenwich Picturehouse for the repeat of #ROHswanlake which is just gorgeous. Beautiful production, dancing, costumes, sets and the music!! The Great British seaside at the National Maritime museum is fun! South Norwood community festival free concert by the excellent Edge Ensemble- Turina, Alwyn, Janacek, Poulenc, Glinka and Haydn. It was delightful - who needs a comedy festival when you have Haydn! The South Norwood con club is run down. Great to see Judy and Nick. I saw Julie on the train this morning. 

Adjusted seat, radio, clock, etc in the new Honda Jazz. It's first long trip and it runs very smoothly and I love the air con on such a hot day. To Aylesford for the KCSP Mass with the Catenian banners which I put up before the Mass. No sign of Clive and staff so got my own tea! Unfortunately I missed the Mass as I had to be in Caterham to play for Alice Faulkner's funeral. She was a lovely lady. Brought the banners home. Watched grammar schools programmes and Versailles also Paddington on Royal Wedding day.

To Spidir AGM and I am elected to the committee. Linda Woodhead gave a stimulating presentation on abuse in the church and my group looked at the theological reasons for male supremacy. To Tate modern but Shape of Light did not appeal. To Beckenham circle and sponsored Bernie who will be enrolled next month at Chislehurst - I will miss it. Watched Inside the US Embassy.

Archdeacon Moira told us about Zimbabwe.I rather liked her comment that the problem with the C of E was everybody trying to be nice and not facing up to tough decisions! John means God's gift and he certainly was ready to be tough and speak out. We had a prayer for Windrush Sunday. We sang Benedictus set by John Harper and I played Meditation on Slane by Erica. Thiman and Dubois Toccata. To Purley Oaks on the bus to change the Honda Jazz. We now we have blue one! Very nice. Cleared out junk from old car. Collect for Windrush Sunday 24th June Almighty and everlasting God, we praise you for the gift and blessing of the Windrush generation. We thank you for their service to this country in so many essential roles and for all they have given to the building up of our national life. Enrich our understanding, deepen our appreciation of one another, banish ignorance, prejudice and fear and knit us together by the power of your Spirit who is the bond of love. Through Jesus C...

The 33rd Westminster Interfaith peace walk in Tower Hamlets. Started in the Altab Ali park, then to East London mosque (excellent speaker) East London central synagogue (a small congregation who gave us wine) lunch at St Boniface German RC church provided by Sachkhan Nanak Dham. I visited the Open London exhibition at Whitechapel gallery and got the bus to St Benet's chaplaincy at Queen Mary University (this is round and decorated with scenes from Revelation). Guardian Angels RC church is impressive. I did not go on to the Hindu Pragati and the Sikh Gurdwara. Met Liz for tea (she had been at the Marriage event at Vaughn House). We had incense at vespers for the Nativity of John the Baptist and the Worth Abbey consort sang Byrd, Parsons and Tallis really well. An appeal for Mary's Meals. Watched Danielle de Niese programme on women composers and programmes on American impressionists and Iraq.

To Hatchlands near Guildford to play the historic 3 manual Walker organ for an hour (NT). They also have an amazing collction of keyboard instruments including pianos owned by Elgar, Bizet, Chopin and Mahler. I was asked to join the roat of volunteer organists but it is too far from home! We tried to get to Winkworth Arboretum but the traffic was horrendous so headed to the airbnb in Cranleigh where we enjoyed the garden.  We arrived early at Wintershall for the amazing Life of Christ. A superb day and the whole experience was very moving. Weather could not have been better. The feeding of the 5000, the fishing scenes, the Passion and the Resurrection scenes just wonderful. Came home via Cranleigh (Liz had left the plants she had bought at the house) and M23.

To Heythrop for the last ever centre for Eastern Christianity 2 day conference - excellent speakers and good to see old friends and meet new people. There is sadly much ignorance about the plight of Christians in the Middle East and animosity towards Russian Orthodox. It was lovely to be at Corpus Christi mass for Ciaran's class at school. I have cleared all new items needing cataloguing in library but in one section of non-fiction now in order I found a lot needing attention! Jeremy Rodell gave a brilliant analysis of Evangelium gaudii from a humanist viewpoint. 11 came including Brian Pearce and Jon dal Din and 2 newcomers. Decided to skip Daniel Roth's recital at the cathedral - the programme of his own works, Dupre, Franck and Reubkhe did not appeal! 

At evensong we sang "Sing choirs of heaven" and "When in our music God is glorified" Sumsion in A and Britten Jubilate. Delicious meal at home with Larry  Markey and Tony. Great chat! Dennis and family came down and Louise and Bruce rang for Father's Day -enjoying the Leonidas chocolates from Jersey - thanks Bruce!

Went down on buses and back on train. 4 in choir and another lady will join later! We sang Martin How's Day by day and went through the Anthem books finding out what items are familiar. I played Dad's voluntary on Ar hyd y nos it being Father's day, Parry on Melcombe and Willan on Dominus regit me. The Nardone setting going well. To Penge congregational church for a recital in aid of Alzheimer's. Alvin Moisey played Chopin, Debussy and Gershwin. His wife Hiroko played Massenet on the violin and their sons played Bartok - amazing talent for their age. They are embarking on Land's End to John O'Groats cycle ride. Alvin's mother had Alzheimer's. He thanked their neighbours for their patience!

To Crystal Palace Festival. The sign posting from the station is useless so I followed 2 sheep! Sang the new Anthem for peace with Katie Rose and the Crystal Palace Transition town choir. Met Jill a friend of London Mozart players. The Anthem for peace by Richard M. Brown words by Shaniqua Benjamin.Blink theatre are impressive and full participation by the disabled. John Grindrod and Travis Elborough author event about parks and brutalism. Interesting. Pity about the music nearby. Lunch at Crystal Palace station cafe and enjoyed 3 London Mozart players wind players in the concourse. Battersea Park peace pagoda prayers for peace. David there. Bruce Kent and Sikh friend still going strong. Habib and Jon dal Din there. Found John Johnson's bench. Vespers and Mass with Fr John. Liz back from Northampton servers Mass. 

Delightful recital by Paul Hale at St John Upper Norwood. Harris, Bach, Bedard, Willan, Schumann, Mulet, Franck and Nigel Ogden as an encore. What a treat! Loved his story about FJ being asleep during the Willan. 

We had coffee and cake at Havishams in Faversham and I visited St Mary of Charity where I was made very welcome. A fine 3 manual organ. Enjoyed the excellent tour of Pugin's house with a most informative guide and we visited St Augustine's shrine. Lovely air bnb overlooking the park with a balcony. Meriyam pulled out all the stops with g and t on arrival and delicious breakfast. John Hogan the National President presented Mike McCarthy with his 50 year scroll at Ramsgate circle. There was a good turnout for the dinner and a lovely evening looking out over Pegwell Bay. Visited Deal castle which was interesting and had light lunch at Kearsney Abbey Dover, Alkham which is a hidden treasure. 10 schools have replied and John Turner will be the third judge! Finished Bill Bryson Notes from a big country - hilarious.

Swam and had The Swan on my mind, mass feast of St Barnabas, mosaic then Southwark cathedral David Drury playing Langlais and Reger. Marko turning for him. Tate Modern but Joan Jonas did not impress. Tea in the members room. Got train and bus home. Henry came for the night. 

Music Sunday and great to have Elaine back. Jerry pulled all the stops out and there was a retiring collection. Mentioned by name in the prayers! We sang When in our music God is glorified and Nardone setting. Played Slater on St Botolph and Lang Tuba tune. Oscar from Worth Abbey school will join us to sing bass! Pets service lots of barking dogs. Played All creatures great and small and The Swan and Handel Cuckoo and Nightingale. Surprised to see Dennis with Henry and Molly and he gave me a lift home. Hot. Ar evensong we sang Anthony Caesar's O love divine. Enjoyed counntryfile on royal estates and Poldark. Very impressive women's marches and Antiques roadshow on women.

Woke early. To All Saints for "What is an icon?" art. Loved Judy Pascoe's Raphael and Sydney Opera House. Did not like large photos of religious statues with pricetags on them. Surely the prices would be underneath? And some people make a living from them e.g. Bethlehem Palestinans. Commercialising religion is inevitable. Watched the Trooping and great to see the flypast and the whole Royal family apart from Prince Philip who is 95 tomorrow! Catenian emails and loading lists onto mailchimp. Victoria choir sang better at Mass Parry and Vierne and we had the blessing of engaged couples. To big iftar at Hyderi Streatham. Excellent talks on worship by Rabbi Mark Solomon (worship in the home, sang Psalm 23) Fr David Howell (Abraham and Thomas Aquinas) and the imam (3 types of worshipper slave, business man and free). Nice food and banana drink and trifle. Good to see Habib and William Rhind.

I woke at 6 and the boys arrived at 7! Sean why are you Bald? You're an old man. Me 71 is not old and you should have respect four dear grandfather! Fire alarm drill at school. A year 1 girl asked my name and then thanked me for making the library so nice. I was very touched. D'Arcy Trinkwon played well at Bedford Park and 60 there. Fine paintings on show too.The must see exhibition is Splendours of the sub-continent at the Queen's gallery. It is superb and wonderful to see so many beautiful things plus Queen Victoria's Hindustani notebooks. To Our Lady of the Annunciation Addiscombe for Faith in Action Croydon Deanery Justice and Peace service with Bishop Paul Hendricks. It was not a Mass and had unusual elements like sharing bread and moving around for the peace. The blessing of the new cross by everybody present took for ever and was accompanied by David Ogden's Christ has no body. Caroline who was at Coloma a year above Louise sang a solo set to a tune from Car...

Mass and Henry played very happily eating an orange. To Penge congregational for a light-hearted programme on the fine Lewis organ. 30 there Penge festival. To Acton. Library backlog now only 3 shelves! Michael Dorey excellent on doubting Thomas at Hinsley room only 8 there. To Natural history museum fab wildlife photographer of the year. St Stephen's Gloucester Road fine art especially Sarah Bryant. English Baroque choir were rehearsing. To Sisters of Sion for Cardinal Bea lecture which was very interesting. Fr Andrew Gadney and Jonathan Gorsky excellent on Divinu Afllente Spiritu. Archbishop Kevin, John O'Toole, Rabbi Mark, Michael Barnes, William Rhind. Harriet Crabtree told me my emails were going to spam and use Mailchimp. 

Mass with Fr Stuart. Invites for public speaking to all 6th form colleges. 2 judges confirmed. To Dr Ojo - cream 3 times a day for fungal infection. Programme on Royal estates and Sicily. A good meeting 11 and 6 visitors. Colin's joke went down well. If the Brothers need a laugh - when I was in hospital, the chap in the opposite bed was awaiting a major heart op. I went over and said “ Don’t worry, Steve, you’re in safe hands - I know the surgeon . I met him at Alcoholics Anonymous . “ Steve raised a smile, but I wonder what he really thought ! I acted as VP. 

Celebrated William Boyce this morning voluntary 1, Alleluia and Solemn March. Good that his music was played at the Royal wedding. Krish Kandiah on paradoxology at St Paul's a most engaging speaker who clearly lives what he believes. If a bus service is not running tfl should put notices at every stop and inform staff. Just wasted 20 minutes waiting for a 17 and eventually walked to Cannon Street and thence to London Bridge. Played Elgar Vesper voluntaries at evensong. Charming I can imagine the young Elgar cycling home after vespers humming them on a summer evening. Antiques roadshow. Jeremy Thorpe exposed. 

To St John Upper Norwood for the coffee concert by the clarinettist Viv Johnson. Vaughan Williams Schumann and Brahms beautifully played. Liz busy in the garden. She saw a rat yesterday -yuk! Incense at vespers with Fr Andrew Gallagher and appeal for Aid to church in need at Mass. Enjoyed Nothing like a dame. 

Wierd dream involving Fr Peter and Eddie! Mass at Anerley which was a funeral (how sad that the deceased was spotted in hospital by the priest - why did nobody know she was ill?) Also unimpressed that the hearse blocked Genoa Road for an hour and the organ was played very slowly - probably Anthony Sisley. The Almeidas were there. Did the invite for the heat of the Catenian public speaking competition and then 2 hours welcoming at the cathedral during Quarant'Ore. It was busy and rather muggy. To Royal Academy unimpressed by Tacita Dean Landscape but love the collection now on display. To the Ritzy to see the excellent The Breadwinner - touching, sad and disturbing.