The organist librarian

Coffee and cake at St John Upper Norwood excellent Poulenc and Danzi from Jay Bevan (clarinet) Timothy Kipling (flute) and Antony Ingham (piano). A rediscovered piece by Poulenc for unaccompanied flute "Un Joueur fe flúte berce les ruines".Beans from the garden. Returned scores to Westminster.  Very nice farewell party for  Brian O'Mahony  and Francis Thomas after Mass. We shall miss them both so much. Met the new intern Oliver and the new organ scholar Johnny. Watched Songs of praise for Diana. 

Took the boys to Robot Zoo at the Horniman along with the hordes and they loved it. Ciaran held onto the bar like a bat for 50 seconds and Sean 40! Excellent fish and chips.  Excellent talk on the Prayer of the Church by Fr  Brian O'Mahony . Man Mohan Gupta and his wife on the Joy of Love. LSE radio 3 free thinking on Martin Luther with the incomparable Diarmaid MacCulloch, Peter Stanford and Ulinka Rutland so a plethora of riches. Perhaps my question will be broadcast

To St Chad's to put up the Catenian banners early and leave leaflets in the porch. Discovered Mass intention for our deceased brothers not in newsletter so rang Fr Bartholomew and Bill who spoke to Fr David and sorted it but I was furious! Fr Paul noticed so I told him. Ran through Stay awake! Played Crown Imperial not very well, last part was better at the end of the service. Got back to St Chad's as people were coming out so gave out some leaflets but impossible to get into the hall for the fete. Derrick and Sheila were there - not helping of course. Colin could not come so a pathetic turnout. To Victoria and met Liz - train from East Croydon very crowded. To Sion centre for discussion on ethics between Michael Barnes and Anil Goonewardene a Buddhist. Met a lovely nun from Hanwell. Delivered mosaic to Brian just before Mass at cathedral for end of Year of Faith - he was deacon. Home to hear Britten Noyes Fludde from Aldeburgh. Programme on Morecambe and Wise.

Saturday helped Liz with Power Point notes. To Southwark cathedral to see display of photos from interfaith walks and Fr David was on duty! To M & S to buy picnic and Royal Academy to see the pathetic Mexico exhibition - mostly photos - once again Brian Sewell was right! Arrived at the hall at 1 p.m. and 4th in queue -did some reading of Maurice Walshe and Tablet (Brian has a short piece about World Youth Day). The talk was a bit dull. The concert performance was excellent and the BBCSO were transformed by Bychkov. All the singers did well. Nice couple next to me and chat to Matt when I was trying to cool off on the stairs. Bus and train straight away! 

To the cathedral early for 10.30 a.m. Nice to see seminarians and I spoke to the priest from Watford. Deacon Geoffrey was very enthusiastic about the interfaith events. The ordination by Bishop John Sheringham was great - he sang some of the prayers. Brian looked so happy and the music was lovely. Mozart, Howells, Haydn, Thine hand O God which the Bishop used in his homily. Had tea downstairs and saw the flypast after the Trooping as we came out. Attempts to photograph it on my Blackberry not good. On No. 11 bus with Andrew and his family from Poland and Denmark. Nice reception somewhat disrupted by rain and ate lunch in library having a great chat to 2 ladies. Saw Stephen Wang. Nice speeches. A happy day. Liz went off to babysit and I returned to the cathedral for vespers and Mass with Fr Michael Quaqo - 5 servers and all went well. Byron choir from Harrow school sang Rheinberger, Guerroro and Harris Faire is the heaven very well. Harry Mellor gave me a lift as Catenians were appeali...

Swam 20 and even tried some front crawl and butterfly - water 3 degrees warmer! To Our Lady of the Annunciation Addiscombe for the funeral of Iris Connolly - good turnout and a good sendoff. Church has been painted and looks good. Gill beach was there but made little effort to speak to Liz. Into the hall while the family went to the crem. Nice lunch and lo and behold Fr Joe sat at our table while we were getting lunch so I just chatted and he was OK! He has not spoken to me for 10 years and it really is time he did!  Long chat to Melvyn and Neva about India. To Heythrop and Liz had her interview about the essay - she sent the wrong one in so it is now sorted. I went to talk by bishop on Ukranian Catholic church - I dropped off. Bruce was there. To cathedral for rehearsal for ordination - waste of time as we are consecration torches. Brian was very enthusiastic about Holy Rood Watford. Watched The Apprentice and long chat to Ann on Skype - they fly to Dubai tonight 15 hour flight. ...

Looking serious as does Brian! Thursday to interfaith lunch and presented Alan and Ivor with their mosaic at last. The theme was suffering and we heard Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh and Christian perspectives and David Standley was excellent. l L

Had a dream where the Old Johannian reunion was at Sandringham at the village fete and the Queen was on a stall. Liz wanted me to buy some items but I said I should have worn my special cufflinks! Woke too late to go swimming. Read some Dupuis and preparations for this evening. Sent off letters to UK Old Johannians not on email. We have 9 for the May 7th dinner which is great! They include Tom Ridley and Brian Greaves who I have not seen for 50 years. At 7 Brian arrived with flowers for Liz and Xavier came later with Australian red wine. We had a lovely meal soup, fish curry, dhal, pavlova and Keralan rice sweet. Most enjoyable conversation.

Swam 18. To More than Gold Borough champions meeting near King's Cross. Not well chaired by Matt who is very laid back. We appear to have signed up for far more than we realised and after lunch we worked on a job description but I doubt if I can give much time to this. There is also duplication of effort going on with denominational reps and office staff contacting churches. There was an event in Croydon this evening about which I knew nothing and Matt didn't even know where it was being held! Unimpressed. HAd an odd conversation with a man from Gunnersbury Baptist at the bus stop who will not work with Catholics on theological grounds! Bus to British library where I joined up without a problem. Circle line to Heythrop. Student services closed when I got there so went to library and saw Larry. Also saw Brian outside - he had just enrolled. Rang Catherine about Croydon library query - it appears only 2 staff on at small branches is standard practice. Got badge and my name was p...

Photos MMazur/CCN Up early and parked at Selhurst where we met Vincent Liu's Dad who still goes to St Chad's, South Norwood. Arrived at 10 a.m. and got ready. Greeted by Archbishop of Southwark who is limping and Bishop Tripp. We set off at 11.10 a.m. leading the clergy. All went well and it was a wonderful ceremony with stunning Mawby fanfares and MacMillan pieces. The Mawby Ave verum was a highlight. Our movements as 6 consecration torches went perfectly. The Archbishop spoke so well and is so human. I was particularly impressed by the way he gave communion to the deacons. The Cardinal spoke well too - we shall miss him. What a joy to see Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop of York, Bishop of London, Dean of Westminster and Salvation Army president of CTE on sanctuary behind the cardinals and warmly greeted. The chief rabbi was in Archbishops house and there were many faith representatives in the congregation. Fantastic Widor Marche pontificale with added brass. I helped cle...