The organist librarian

Up early and put on suit to get bus to Balham for interviewing help session at Chestnut Grove. Security very obvious with gates and checks to get in and out! 3 of the 6 students turned up - where were the others? Very impressed - 2 of them had been in a group of 11 who had visited Cambridge. One described himself as a comforting guy and a kind person and wants to be a football pro after training in the USA. The third could become an M.P. or journalist - he is keen to change his own Black community view of gang and knife crime and has influenced others for the good - such people give one hope for our divided society. I mentioned him to the M.P's helper on Saturday. Home and then to St Michael's for Sarah Kim's recital. Alfred Hollins, Schumann, Mendelssohn Serious variations arranged for organ, Alain and Joseph-Ermend Bonnal Cloches dansle ciel. She grew up in Sydney and is now based in Paris - plays very well and a good audience. Saw David Dibbs, Ken, Howard and Adrian. The...

The gang and knife culture: the way out Local author Alex Wheatle refuses to shy away from asking the difficult questions and his latest novel The Dirty South is a devastating indictment of society’s failures to offer an alternative to ghetto culture. 23 people including members of the library reading group joined in discussion at Battersea Park library as part of Black History month. Problems mentioned were children not knowing their parents, the lack of fear of being found out, resentment towards parents, parents not being honest, individualism, and uncontrolled access to internet, TV and computers. Kids feel abandoned and unsupported without clear guidelines. In society there is a lack of quietness, too much stimulation and kids do not interact with others. Marriage break-up can lead to an eldest son can become a surrogate parent, lack of self-worth. Respect for elders has gone. Black women can be portrayed in hip hop culture as loose. Some suggestions made by parents: take away ...

Spent Saturday morning banking up 2 weeks money as Caroline will be off for at least another week. Could not access computer records to do C and D sheets. Alex arrived early and over coffee mentioned he had been at Buckingham Palace to receive his M.B.E. 23 people came to the session on gang and knife crime and there were lots of useful comments so I will write more on this. To vespers and Mass - Fr Archer and Philip and Victoria were serving. Sunday we sang Bernadette Farrell's "Christ be our light" and Nicholson in C. At evensong we had 4 in choir but managed Rutter's "I will sing with the spirit" well. Congregation joined in chanted canticles. Psalm 142 to Blow chant - very penitential. Watched Antiques roadshow but dropped off and woke to see Stephen Fry in America.

It is a year since Eugene was tragically killed at Mitcham Common and the trial starts soon. I took part in the "dedication" of a bench in Battersea Park in his memory as his mother Maureen used to work at the library and here are the photos from the occasion when I said some prayers. We must do all we can to end this senseless gang warfare in which innocent people suffer and die.