The organist librarian

Played Couperin Benedictus and Dubois Grand Choeur. We sang Thee we adore. A good sermon from  Jerry Garton  you can read it on the website. It was on welcome. He does not like The Apprentice it makes me laugh!  The 181 party at St John Upper Norwood was a great success - the Bold Balladiers were great and Terry took the photos. Evensong was a delight and everybody enjoyed it so much. Walmisley in D minor, Rachmaninov Bogoroditse, Ireland Greater love, Angels voices, Nun Danket Karg-Elert and Father hear the prayer which he had at out wedding. Fr John gave an amusing address. What a happy day! Great to have all the family together and so many friends from the different parts of our lives - Catenians, interfaith, Gallery Prommers, art, church. Richard Peregrine who started school with me in Joburg aged 6 and of course  Michael Goldthorpe  who came out to South Africa when I was 15. Lots of cards and contributions for CAFOD and Musicians fund - thank you all!...

Had a lovely overnight stay with Richard and Penny Peregrine at Hartley Whitney. Visited West Grove garden and played the fine organ.I played Handel, Elgar including For the fallen and 2 Pomp and circumstance marches and Crown Imperial. We had coffee at the Women's institute and bought a cake and a plant. The village is very pleasant and has a variety of shops including the organic one where we got chocolate.  Lots of piano and singing before dinner outside and lots of good wine! We also visited Richard's REME mess with fine British paintings on display. Guildford cathedral on the way home - fine Magna Carta banners and quilts. Home by 5. To Shirley golf club for Vincent Cullen Golf day dinner which was good. Long chat to Anne Brant. 

Saw John about wall at back which is leaning. Drove to Hartley Whitney to stay with Richard and Penny in their lovely home. Lunch in the garden then to West Green garden which is NT but owner charges £8. She puts on opera for £90 and pays young singers a pittance. Then to Richard's old mess which has lovely British paintings. Played the piano and sang and after dinner enjoyed opera and St John's records. A delightful day!

To Royal Society of Medicine for excellent dinner - just 10 of us but Clive Nettleton is such an inspiration. We talked about human rights, travel, change, Palestine, South Africa and much more! £110 is a lot for night out but we both enjoyed it. Dennis picked us up and got stuff to take in the car to Jersey. Love the orange jacket but not the 2 black eyes from the fall! Glad I'm feeling fine again.

Monday April 27 to Prince of Wales pub, Drury Lane - Liz decided not to come and John Thing had rung to say that he has prostate cancer which is a big shock and he needs our prayers. Richard Peregrine and Mike Strong at the pub which was very noisy. Conversation was really hard. Christopher Dane's older brother was there but hard to hear - Christopher is in New Zealand. It was hard to even get names - a Greek name who played Cassius in 1960. Mike was recounting the story of the fart at a dramatic moment in "King Lear" and how Dame Flora Robson performed for us in 1961! I can't remember that. Roger and Ann Cameron the headmaster were there and it was good to see them but a private room was definitely needed. No sign of Kimon the local contact!! I had forgotten that Mike was at Russell Endean's funeral with me and Bruce. Also met a Deloittes partner who has lived in USA, Belgium and France and had little time for the French school system! Richard and I headed for Wa...

The chapel, college tower, Rob Baillie, Graham Saunders, Ray Lecolle-Brown, Rob Stewart, Richard Peregrine

Soweto contrasts from squatter camp to Holiday Inn and World cup stadium Friday we saw Rob after breakfast and Bruce our mini coach driver arrived to take us on a tour of Soweto. Much had changed since 1970 and we saw no libraries. We walked round a squatter area and visited a home - the family from the Cape. Bought a green stone carving of the eye looking at everything. The tour ended at the Pietersen museum on the site of the Orlando student demonstrations. It was a moving experience and a harrowing one too. Very well done with all sides represented. Bruce returned us in time for lunch. We visited the new college shop and bought a hat and 2 books. We had already met Jean in the school library (my favourite haunt) and I presented the book I had read on the plane "South Africa; how are you?" to the library. She took us to see the museum which is fascinating and we enjoyed a walk from the prep along the Long walk as the sun set. The reunion of 1963/4 was a...