The organist librarian

On the 9th I worked and to Vespers and Mass - Liz and I were a little late as on the bus. Fr Michael at mass. Train home. I always think this feast is intriguing. Why did Jesus have to be baptised? I think it was to show him and everyone around who He was. The voice from heaven is the whole point. He is then driven into the wilderness and begins his ministry with that amazing statement at Nazareth - "this day this prophecy is fulfilled". On the 10th we sang a lovely setting of "Come down O love divine" by Hilary Tadman-Robins born 1947 one year after me and I played Bach's "Christ the Lord to Jordan came" which was one of Dad's party pieces. I was rather chuffed I got the pedal part right. The left hand running semiquavers are more tricky. Spent the afternoon taking the tree and decorations down but the crib stays up until Candlemas. The tree in the front garden will have to stay for the moment because of the snow! The boxes are still waiting to go...

I should have recorded the passing of Roger Snewin who was a fine organist with a sardonic humour. His funeral was on the day of the wedding and we did not know about it until after the event. I am told the church was packed and the music was splendid. Roger was on the RSCM Southwark committee for many years and had many musical interests. He sang at St Margaret's, Lee and in the Eltham Choral society. He had been a head teacher and had an excellent boys choir. I recall visiting Our Lady of Lourdes, Lee where he played for many years and he demonstrated his simplified version of the Widor Toccata. He played the trumpet at Addiscombe Corpus Christi processions with Richard Reilly. The angels will be smiling at his jokes! On one occasion he played "Feed the birds" during communion! He was only 70 and had cancer of the lung which spread to his spine which for such an active man must have been a great trial but he bore it all with humour and patience. May he rest in peace. Th...