The organist librarian

Francesca Massey  played really well at Bromley parish church. To St George's cathedral Southwark for 60th anniversary Mass for HCPT and gave out all the Catenian bursary fund leaflets. Saw Maureen Martin and lots of others I know including Michael from Westminster cathedral. Tea and cake afterwards. Took the collection! Drums far too LOUD and constant! David Gummett and Fr Gerald were there.  Liz back from Aylesford after servers mass. To Croydon Minster for unique concert in aid of the organ appeal. Lovely to hear Peter Nardone singing. Andrew Cantrill ,  Simon Lole ,  Nigel McClintock ,  Carl Jackson ,  Ian Keatley  and David Swinson. The choir under Ronnie  Ronny Krippner  sounding really well. Also saw Stephen Disley, Marie and Mollie from Coulsdon,  Colin Boswell  is leaving sadly. Martin How,  Anne Fleming . Quite an evening.  Denise Mead , Gail Winter and Julie Beaumont. Jo is leaving Coulsdon to move to Norwich. ...

Took car to Victoria. Another very hot night. Delivered clothes to the Passage and got tube to Bow. Nice coffee in the house with Father Michael who it turns out has not been to the opera for years! James is also going to seminary so another one to pray for! I played Ralph Vaughan Williams and all went so much better. Deidre was there this week. Picked up car and drove to Acton to collect Louise and Ciarán. Songs of Praise with Simon Lole playing the piano. Nice dinner with wine. Listened to quite a lot of Yeomen of the Guard from the Proms.

Slept badly again. We sang Simon Lole's "O God of mercy" 6 in choir and the Stephen Dean St Andrew's acclamations going well. Jill Cliff celebrated 80th birthday with Pimms. I played Webber on Lobe den herren (first played that when I was a teenager and had to play for the Mayoral service in Dad's absence) and Finlandia Dad's favourite. He passed away July 1999. It was appreciated! The children sang Panis angelicus really well. Edward George was at cathedral for Mass - he is here from South Africa. Had an hour's sleep after lunch. At evensong we sang Noble in B minor, Bairstow Save us O lord, The duteous day now closeth and Adrian played Bairstow's Toccata Prelude on Pange lingua - very satisfying. Cleared up garden pots. Liz is cutting down on them.

The Westminster Cathedral Easter candle - the Coulsdon one is much smaller! All went well at Coulsdon. There was light snow as we left and a service from Liverpool Anglican cathedral on the radio with Mozart Spatzen Mass and tremendous organ sound. We had a mini-Vigil with Exultet version sung to Woodlands preceded by fanfare by Andrew Moore and bells and noise! Christ the Lord is risen today was shortened as there was no decorating of the Lenten cross with flowers. Haydn Missa St Johannis de Deo but no Benedictus. Bob Witham sang tenor. Now the green blade, Jesus lives! Christ is alive! and The day of resurrection were the other hymns. At communion the choir enjoyed "This joyful Eastertide". at the end I played Saraband for the morning of Easter by Howells. Sherry afterwards and met Reg who is a baritone and seems keen on the choir. Suggested to Dudley he should come along too. Got petrol on way home and have had 2 little chocolate eggs so far. To the Jugged Hare for roast ...