The organist librarian

John Fulton recommended Peter Godwin's books and I have just finished "When a crocodile eats the sun" which is a harrowing and moving account of Zimbabwe and his family. Highly recommended!

Icon Church of the Nativity Bethlehem Helen Suzman was a relentless critic of South Africa's Nationalist government. For 13 years, as sole member of the Progressive Party in parliament, she was the only MP to speak out against racial segregation, at a time when only the white minority enjoyed the right to vote. Born in 1917 to Jewish immigrants from Lithuania, she married Dr Moses Suzman, who became one of South Africa's leading physicians. Five years after graduating from Witwatersrand University, she joined the staff as a lecturer in economic development. Helen Suzman's interest in disadvantaged urban Africans increased after she became a member of the South African Institute of Race Relations. She began to take an active role in politics after the 1948 election, when the mildly liberal United party was replaced by the National party, with its rigid policy of apartheid. Racial discrimination In 1952, standing for the United party, she was elected to the Hou...

The former Archbishop of Cape Town and Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu has asked for forgiveness on behalf of South Africa for the recent xenophobic violence against foreigners. He was speaking on Monday, 9th June, at St Martin in the Fields, the famous London church on Trafalgar Square, where he blessed three Zimbabwean sculptures which have been positioned near a room named in his honour. Archbishop Tutu recalled that South Africans had taken refuge in other African countries during the apartheid years and said the attacks on foreigners were unacceptable. But on the positive side, South Africans had been horrified and many had been wonderful in offering help to the victims. Turning to Zimbabwe, Archbishop Tutu said it used to be a showpiece in Africa: “It has now turned into the most horrendous nightmare”. He called for a peacekeeping force to be sent to Zimbabwe and advised Mugabe: “How about stepping down? Oppression will not have the last word. Freedom will come to Zimbabwe.” Archbish...

What an immense privilege to be mitre bearer for the Cardinal at this service which has such simple drama in a packed but empty church because the cross and candles have gone. I think particularly of Thomas the precentor, Fr Mark and tenor Nick standing before the throne waiting while the choir sings Bruckner "Christus factus est" and then they move to the pulpit to sing the Passion. The Cardinal spoke about Zimbabwe. The Veneration is always a deeply moving moment. We all genuflect 3 times keeping time with each other as we creep towards the cross held up before the high altar. The choir sang Improperia by Victoria. As the boys venerate the men sing Crux fidelis. We all kneel and sing "When I survey". At communion "Tristis est anima" of Poulenc and O vos omnes by Casals. Paul smiled when he commented that I had the mitre bearer's humeral veil tied at front and not at the back at the start - we got it right when I put it on at the end. Liz remained to ...

I have finished reading "House of stone" by Christina Lamb which is a deeply moving account of the troubles of that beautiful land. It is particularly good on the motivations of the different characters involved in farm seizures.

Saturday to Moss Bros to be measured for the wedding tail coat. The assistant kept asking me my measurements - I thought the object of the exercise was for him to measure me! To Southwark cathedral for evensong at 4 p.m. Vickie was there and prayers were said for Zimbabwe. We remember Rose Gill from our congregation and the group with Bishop Nick Baines of Croydon who are in Zimbabwe at the moment. Rose took a lovely booklet about the church with her along with the tape and CD we had made. When we lived in Johannesburg, Mum, Dad, Ann and I had a wonderful holiday in Zimbabwe. The war was still going on so we saw soldiers at Victoria Falls. The flight over the falls must be the most thrilling experience of my travels all over the world - it truly is the flight of angels. The Victoria Falls hotel had all the old world charm and standards of the past. At Wankie the game warden knew exactly where to take us to see the wildlife. Dad remarked to him that he must phone the elephants to warn t...

We had a family service this morning attended by the uniformed organisations. Afterwards we recorded "Shine, Jesus shine" and "There is a longing" for Rose to take to Zimbabwe. The Mothers Union welcomed Alice on a visit from Zimbabwe in her lovely blue and white MU uniform. The recording went really well and the second takes are both the better ones. How moving Anne Quigley's setting is and it is good that it speaks of fear, grief, sickness and death. These are matters which all of us have to face including children and this song helps. And Zimbabwe needs the justice and freedom of which the song speaks. Last night we had deacons Richard and Peter in rose dalmatics at Mass and what a fine pair they are! It was good to be singing "Praise to the holiest" at the start. This is one of those hymns with 3 good tunes. Catholics know Terry, Anglicans divide between Dykes and Somervell although Terry is gaining some ground! It was a favourite of Cardinal Hume...