The organist librarian

Saturday Feb 28th to Royal School of Church Music sessions at Gary Weston library, Southwark cathedral. Met the new director Lyndsey Gray who is impressive and I gave him some RC contacts. The presentations and discussions were helpful and there was opportunity to flag up concerns. In particular we have lost the "Martin Hows" available to come and advise at practices. To Vespers and mass - I was thurifer as Liz was due to go to Milton Keynes to meet Shirley and Flo but Grandma wasn't up to it. Sunday March 1 First of Lent. Nigel Groome RSCM rep came to practice and service. He said "Well done". Bishop Nick of Croydon presided and preached - he told Vickie the choir sounded good and they did well. To Sandra and Dave's in Chislehurst with Bruce for Gill's 60th birthday - surprise party which was great. Lots to eat! Monday March 2 Catenian meeting. Everyone enjoyed the 1000th - it was good to see Richard Nash there. Eric Tope is to be V.P. and he gave me a ...

On Sunday afternoon there was a remarkable public meeting at the Fairfield Hall, Croydon between the Imam of Croydon, Qasim Ahmad and his friend Nick Baines, Anglican Bishop of Croydon. There was a good size audience mostly middle class white but a fair number of Muslims. It was very brave of both of them to invite open questions and there was only one extremist query. One woman asked about the status of Muslim women but this was deferred to the next encounter. Among those present were the vicar of Croydon, Colin Boswell, Fr Donald from St Michael's, West Croydon (with biretta) and Canon Collins from St Mary's RC, West Croydon. It is impossible to summarise such a wide ranging discussion. The Imam told us there were 400o people attending his mosque. The local chief of police commented that the media gave a distorted picture of Croydon.The Imam said that Islam is a way of life and Muslims pray 5 times a day. They give 2 and a half % of their savings to the poor and go on Haj onc...