The organist librarian

To MAss and got Pilgrim which had my report on public speaking. To St John's school - 9 sang well. Tunbridge Wells 800th meeting was excellent and we enjoyed a treat staying at the Spa hotel. National president was impressed by youth matters. On the way back enjoyed Emmetts garden.  Excellent recital by  Andrew Scott  at St Michael West Croydon. How I wish all players gave us such good programme notes and the organ specification and advance publicity should list the programme too!  Good talk by Rose Hickman about Home for good the Passage's volunteering programme. Enjoyed King Charles III on TV. Awful rain. 

After the excitement of the tennis Tuesday was a quiet day with Liz working away at reflective theological journals and me tidying up, cooking sausages, sorting out washing, etc. Have finished the book on Sydney Nicholson at Chislehurst which was interesting and it mentioned the blind tenor at York Minster. Louise brought the car back and did some work and then I went to Bromley library to get more scores. The prom featured RVW Fantasia on Tallis theme. Ireland These things shall be which is a fine piece. Delius and Belshazzar's Feast - it was well sung. We skipped the late Prom and went to Acton and caught up on more Olympic action. Wednesday we all went to Ravenscourt Park and met Rufus. They enjoyed the hour long football taster! Had lunch there and Liz had her hair cut. To the pre Prom discussion with Simon Halsey and Ken Burton. Good to hear many young people are singing around the country. I think the BBC would have done well to tell us that the new choir is in fact 5 excelle...

Up early on Saturday and Adrian picked me up at 6.15 and at airport by 7.10 a.m. Flybe flight to Douglas and waited at airport with Graham while Adrian collected the minibus from Douglas. To the vicarage and dropped case and into town for lunch at delicatessen on quayside - excellent Manx ham. Drove up to see the view of the town and back to Empress Hotel. Walked to the station. Rehearsal and sang evensong at 5 p.m. Gibbons short service, Wood O thou the central orb, Lloyd Webber Sing the life. They liked "Christ triumphant" - they use old English Hymnal. To Italian Job for a very nice meal. Taxi back to vicarage. Sunday rehearsed and sang at Mass at St Matthew's. Very old fashioned like the vicarage which is pretty cold although had an electric blanket! Ghastly hymn by Gladstone to a Barnby tune and horrid Lord' prayer! Caesar Missa Brevis capella regalis. Creed Folk mass Martin Shaw. 2 anthems by Nicholson. Light lunch laid on for us in the hal...

Friday swam 30. Liz busy on essays so I went to sing at funeral of Eva Parker at St John's. Small choir so recording of Faure and Handel used and Adrian played Elgar. Back to choir practice and picked up Marie recovered from her hip op. Had a look at Somervell Passion for Good Friday. Saturday Liz to Heythrop and I went to St George's Beckenham for launch of book about School of English Church music and Sir Sydney Nicholson. John Henderson and Trevor Jarvis spoke and played early recordings. Martin How and Harry Bramma also spoke. Nigel Groome played Harris and Willan. At evensong choir sang Nicholson in D flat, Knight Christ whose glory and Martin How conducted his lovely Ave verum. Stanford Postlude and Caesar chant for psalm. Hymn tune Chislehurst by Nicholson. Helen Murphy, Bob Prizeman and Alan organist from Dartford there. Bought the book and Henderson's dictionary of organ composers reduced which I always wanted to own! Train to Victoria and Fr Paolo at vespers and M...