The organist librarian

Sunday to Mass at Anerley and heard John MacManus has died. Dinner at Harvester using voucher - I had gammon. Monday a.m. Marshall Graham's funeral at St John's - a great sendoff. Stanford, Faure, Kontakion. Body had been in church overnight - he was confirmed at Westminster Abbey and they attended St Peter Eaton Square. Ann is his widow. Nice eats and good chat about the trip and the new choir director. Told Adrian about the Musical museum. To St Martin in the Fields to hear the wonderful Rowan Williams on encounter. Alan, Ivor, Brian Pierce, Rita there plus 2 others. Met rabbi Stephen at exhibition which I did not like much. Our conversation was interrupted by an American Jewish lady who I have often seen at the front of PreProm talks. She announced she did not celebrate Yom Kippur and could not get to the synagogue in Greenwich. When asked why she became very aggressive - said we were asking personal questions - she had visual problems because of a brain tumour. I apologise...

Tree surgeon came, mosaic and a super Cadogan prom with Dame Sarah Connolly. You could hear a pin drop! Played the organ at St Mary Cadogan Street. It is a basic 6 rank 1964 Walker and such a fine large church deserves something bigger and better. No reed or strings. No swell to great. Crescendo pedal. Excellent lunch at Cote Sloane Square calimari, seafood linguini, peach crumble with ice cream. Looked at hats in Peter Jones. I would not pay £40 or £119 for a hat! Talk on Ives Symphony no. 2. Prom 1 tonight Candide overture, Gershwin piano concerto and Ives which I slept through. Minnesota orchestra. Prom no. 2 the amazing Aurora orchestra Shostakovich piano concerto no. 2 and symphony no. 9 from memory. Could not follow scores as lights turned off. Now on bus to Battersea Park to pick up car. Home 12.45.

2 contrasted proms. Shostakovich at Cadogan well sung by Latvian radio choir. I spoke to the choir member interviewed on TV and he agreed it would be great to hear them sing Latvian music. The piano preludes and fugues amazing music. Debussy and Ravel followed by Turnage. I dropped off! He was most engaging at the talk and we heard a fine piece by him. Dame Monica Mason was there and on my bus looking formidable! This morning I got more scores from Westminster and indulged in cappuccino and fruit tart at Peter Jones. Lots of the gallery regulars missing tonight.

To mosaic - have not been there for weeks and now we have a gap until September. Two superb concerts. Monteverdi with I Fagiolini at the Cadogan Hall and the BBC National orchestra of Wales playing Sibelius 7, Rach pno con 2 and Shostakovich 10. In between to central music library to get scores.

Saturday to Cadogan Hall and Reuben Thomas was in the queue. Finished 4th Kubu novel -  this one more gruesome about muti. To Balham library to get scores and home to tidy and clean up. Unpacking all done and everything put away. It rained all day. Took clothes to the Passage in the car. Excellent prom at Cadogan - Britten, Purcell, Lutoslawski ECO with Paul Watkins. Ben Johnson sang beautifully - better than Pears and Richard Watkins horn. I went to Mass with Fr Alexander and the choir from Farnham singing Mozart and Bruckner. Liz to the Prom and I got there in time for the start - Wagner, Ravel and Shostakovich 5. Picked up car at Victoria and home in 35 minutes.

Thursday was a lovely day and we had a big breakfast including delicious black pudding. We went for a walk round Headham village and saw the alpacas then had a swim, sauna and jacuzzi. The wedding itself was at 2 and the room was beautifully decorated with lights, candles and flowers. The registrar was charming and the whole thing went off very well. Shirley and Levantha's sister were witnesses and it was great to see Shirley and Jim's grandchildren. We had a delicious meal and sat with George and Jane from York and Marion. There was a good band and excellent ballroom dancing plus a disco. I went off the bed around 10.45! Friday up for a swim and short sauna and a large breakfast. I had rung the parish church vicar and arranged to play at 11 a.m. We duly arrived in a taxi at 10.50 and there were flower arrangers around and the lady said the the vicar is here as his car is here. By the time she went to the office he had gone. I tried the library (wearing my organ shoes) but no ...

On Bank Holiday Monday morning to Bromley Parish church for coffee (saw Gary and Michael Toplis) and recital marking 25 years as assistant organist by Peter Spencer. De Heredia, Bach Passacaglia (far superior to da Rosa's version) Parry, Messiaen, Howells Sine Nomine and Saraband in modo elegiaco, Peeters Lied to the Flowers and Alain Litanies. Most enjoyable and the Walker organ as good as ever. Wednesday more shelves up and boxes made and sorted out Nellie's papers and my old diaries. Australian youth orchestra on HDD under Mark Elder - Mahler and Shostakovich. Took old chest of drawers up to garage - Mahler youth orchestra playing Mahler and Bruckner and Hindemith.

To 8 a.m. Mass at St Mary's West Croydon - very elderly priest who I think uses a voicebox. He did not give out communion but there were lots of special ministers doing it. A man at the back of the church kept moaning and it was rather distracting although of course all are welcome. Played 3 pieces by Dr Cecil Armstrong Gibbs at Coulsdon. Folk song, Quiet thoughts and Postlude in D all well crafted. It is 50 years since he died. He was born in Chelmsford in 1889 and was a D Mus from Cambridge. He taught at the Royal College of Music from 1921 to 1939. To library for first staff meeting of Sunday staff which went alright. Various isssues were raised not least the washing up bowl which I have now removed! Watched BBCSO Prom of Huw Watkins new violin concerto and Shostakovich 5th.

Monday swam 38 and Tuesday 36 - John was there. Slow lane very crowded. Heard end of Scriabin symphony No. 1 from Prom. Novelists in their own words with interesting archive footage but fell asleep. Tuesday 17th had to sort out rubbish bins all wet and flies. New cleaning contract not working well and tea towels and hand towels not being cleaned any more! Had staff meeting. Left at 2.30 and to Tate Modern to see Gilpin's slides in Exposed (rather sad and bitteer sweet images) and Francis Alys's fascinating films. To National portrait gallery to see BP portrait award - not happy with first prize winner picture of her dead mother. The whole question of intrusion into privacy is raised by these artists although her mother did give permission. To Hinde St church for Merlin rehearsal with Rob Lane the composer who is very unassuming. Shostakovich 5th from the proms and Arvo Part St John Passion. Programme about man who tried to swim the Amazon.

Thursday started weeding music scores - just like the old days! To Two brewers for farewell to Liz Sines who ran the childcare training centre at Battersea Park. So nice that her family came and nice food and white wine. Chatted to Meryl and Daphne. Always got on so well with "upstairs" and they were pleased that I went. Liz was baby sitting and helping with shopping on Friday. Home to watch prom Britten Sinfonia da requiem (on train with score but new radio Liz got me not so good) Prokofiev piano concerto No. 1 and Shostakovich 7 - stunning playing by BBC Welsh SO. Friday M was gone. Left at 2 and to Lambeth Palace exhibition. Told at 3 to come back at 4 and there might be tickets. Visited museum of garden history which was quite interesting. At 3.45 men in suits said no more tickets, closed so I protested. My only chance to go and I sent a furious email on my return home. You cannot treat public like this. To M & S for Earl Grey tea and a croissant. To Royal Albert Hall...

Checked out of St John's hotel where we had made full use of sauna and pool! Some noise from weddings and a charge for parking! To Sisters of mercy convent in Handsworth - lovely people and fascinating displays. To Soho House which was well presented and on to Moseley Old Hall beyond Wolverhampton - a lovely garden and Charles II connection. Nice tea. Saw Muriel on tour. To see Bruce after work at the flat and enjoyed The choir. The sisters gave us car park pass and key so we could return around 10.30. Went to prayer with them in the lovely side chapel. Most interesting place. Did a tour round on our own on Wednesday and returned home stopping at the lovely Upton House. Just as at Wightwick where we enjoyed billiards this was a 1930s country weekend experience with the piano being played. The pictures are magnificent - El Greco, Goya, Hogarth, Stubbs, Breugel, etc. Magnificent gardens too. Home around 5ish. Isle of the dead and Shostakovich Symphony 9 with scores from prom.

Tai chi as no swim today - decided on some extra sleep in the end! On way home prom of Nagasaki by Schnittke and followed Shostakovich 8 with the score - Gergiev and LSO - alas I dropped off. University challenge, Levi Roots on caribbean cooking and the Queen's tour without sound! Interesting about Uganda and Fiji and the legacy of the tour. Margaret off to Ghana tomorrow! Good to have Liz home. Very shocked by the death of Fr Edward Houghton.

To Norwood circle meeting. I had forgotten I was sick visitor so volunteered to do another month. David Barrett gave us a potted version of the beginnings of our circle. Tuesday to Friends of cathedral meeting with Dom Cuthbert Johnson retired abbot of Quarr. He spoke much about how the Benedictine rule can be used in ordinary life and of how the liturgy should reflect peace and quiet in our troubled world. The Kiss of peace should show respect for each person - he has little time for wild exuberant joy at services! Very Benedictine! Spoke to Ann on Skype in Canada! Today met with Vickie and planned music to end of July. To St Michael's for recital by Ilya Kudryavtsev from Russia. He played very well - Shostakovich, Alain, Reger and Durufle. Home for lunch and then to Hinsley Room for interfaith group. 8 came and we discussed "Love of neighbour". Interesting that Mark was at the previous meeting in the room which was for paid lay assistants in the diocese. Much enjoyed Al...

Morning service went OK and I practised. I had a long chat to Barry Stronge -his wife has goine into a care home. Visited Grandma and took Louise to the station. Dropped off wedding music at Adrian's and sent out the music list. Evensong was from St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh. Wrote provincial councillor's report. Watched on BBC4 an amazing prom by the Simon Bolivar youth orchestra of Venezuela. Shostakovich 10, Bernstein and Latin American dances played with such gusto and intensity. Most impressed by the 26 year old conductor who spoke of humility!

Thursday August 2 to the Town Hall for a useful course on saving energy. Friday 3rd was our 33rd wedding anniversary and Liz cooked a delicious meal which we enjoyed with champagne on the patio on a fine evening. Sat 4th to Mass after work and the Challoner choir sang - they were not very good again! Why don't they stick to simpler anthems and settings? The Prom included Shostakovich 7th symphony and was on TV. The National youth orchestra were conducted by Mark Elder and they were brilliant!