The organist librarian

Swam, Bromley library for scores - got all I required and donated Alan Burtonshaw's Messiah score used to raise money for St Christopher's Hospice in 1986 to local studies library.  Conducted tour of Red House and Hall Place Bexley. Topiary, Tudor hall. Liz at Tony Hawes' funeral.  Great 8OOth meeting of Medway Towns at Gravesend!  Lovely stay at Gravesend and safely home in good time. Excellent party last night with Chris the singer and dancing. Great to meet so many good people!  Really enjoyed Mary King's workshop on Mozart Mass in C minor and chatted to the excellent pianist Caroline on the bus. Served at vespers and Mass and Mum and Dad were prayed for (10 years since they died!) Fr Martin Plunket celebrated with a Columbian priest currently in Rome. No cantor! We got to the prom and were unimpressed by the first piece. Mahler Ruckert lieder not in same order as the score! Mozart Mass was great!

A simple communion service led well by Stephen so no Sanctus and Agnus. 4 in choir as Phillipa joined us. I started going through Alan's music and brought home Nutcracker suite and Grieg Wedding day and lots of Bach which I enjoyed playing on the piano. I have agreement to sell the unused scores.  Found an interesting voluntary on Diademata by Barry Ferguson, played Bach New Year's day prelude, Stanford on Gartan and Les cloches by le Begue. Very nice roast duck and red cabbage for lunch with wine. Evensong was from Salisbury and The Choir mentioned Tim Penrose. 

Drove to Beckenham and played Bach Ascension and Easter preludes. Chatted to Stephen about recitals publicity. To Alan's house and tried the Allen organ and there are 5 keyboards. Packed with his brother's paintings some of which are good and some are dreadful! I think museums would be interested in the original features. Liz stayed at Acton and went to Mass there and the park. To evensong - Timothy Penrose in congregation - Sumsion in G and Walford Davies O sons and daughters. Watched Diamond Queen. Great evensong on radio from St John's Cambridge. Monday woke with bad backache.

Friday swam 20 and went to Alan Burtonshaw's house but we could not get in - key wouldn't work so the group were going to meet the solicitor at 2.45 too late for me. To Acton in the car and Tom came with Seán from the park to let us in. Lou and Ciarán arrived from swimming. We served at 5.30 mass for Brian the new Archbishop of Benin and papal nuncio and he was charming - I was mitre and he asked my name. The nuncio and Archbishop Vincent were present. Choir sang My beloved spake and we had the Dorian Toccata at the end taken at a great speed by Peter. To Lancaster hotel on the bus for 6 circles meeting - 330 there and Liz "entertained" by Don Maclean who is past his sell-by date. Water on the tables - wine prices far too high. We did not stay for John Rayer's speech and got tube and bus to Acton and to bed.

Liz came to Alan's funeral and sang alto. The choir was augmented by members of the organists association and others and the Kontakion was great! I played reasonably well considering so many organists were listening and went to Beckenham crem where the organist played Bach well! Fr Paul was on great form and really inspiring. There were 70 people there and a nice lunch with wine. Met a man who knows Harry True a young organist so gave him my contact details. Read Dupuis and watched Come dine with me. Liz went to servers council and I went to police meeting for Croydon organised by Mayor for London. Leader of council chaired, deputy leader for London, deputy commander and borough commander presented the plans and invited questions. I said I was appalled that South Norwood station is to close leaving Croydon with only one station and more officers on the beat. Also New Scotalnd Yard is to close! Spoke to Steve Reed our M.P. and the borough commander. I offered to join a Safer neighb...

The late Alan Burtonshaw playing the new Mander organ he gave to St Michael's Beckenham. His will cannot be found!

Dennis was visiting AnnMarie in Dublin and had to go to casualty at St Vincent's where she works. He is diagnosed has having viral peritonitis and a hiatus hernia which is hereditary - Liz's side this time! He hopes to come back to England tomorrow - his car is at the flat as he had been on a course at Liverpool. Swam 24 today and to St Michael's where Paul and Caroline provided tea and chocoalte biscuits. Neither of them liked Vickie Sims - too bossy and rude when at Oxford and ambitious! Had an enjoyable chat about theology and then a practice. He had put the heat on in the church. I see he is leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in May. I am to play for Alan's funeral. I see there is a window showing the Pope in memory of his mother and father. His brother died in 2004 and he had an Allen organ in the house. He was a very private person.