The organist librarian

Francesca Massey  played really well at Bromley parish church. To St George's cathedral Southwark for 60th anniversary Mass for HCPT and gave out all the Catenian bursary fund leaflets. Saw Maureen Martin and lots of others I know including Michael from Westminster cathedral. Tea and cake afterwards. Took the collection! Drums far too LOUD and constant! David Gummett and Fr Gerald were there.  Liz back from Aylesford after servers mass. To Croydon Minster for unique concert in aid of the organ appeal. Lovely to hear Peter Nardone singing. Andrew Cantrill ,  Simon Lole ,  Nigel McClintock ,  Carl Jackson ,  Ian Keatley  and David Swinson. The choir under Ronnie  Ronny Krippner  sounding really well. Also saw Stephen Disley, Marie and Mollie from Coulsdon,  Colin Boswell  is leaving sadly. Martin How,  Anne Fleming . Quite an evening.  Denise Mead , Gail Winter and Julie Beaumont. Jo is leaving Coulsdon to move to Norwich. ...

I had a quiet day instead of going sketching at HMS Belfast because my right knee was hurting in the night. It was very hot and muggy despite a thunderstorm, Liz went to help at St Vincent school fete. I watched Antonio Pappano's Classical voices about sopranos featuring Callas, Tebaldi, Nilsson,  Sutherland, Price and modern singers including one singing in an MRI scan showing 30 muscles are used! Westminster cathedral choir featured as well singing the Allegri. The policing London programme was rather disturbing. To vespers and Mass with Fr Alexander. The boys and girls were away so I did acolyte. The schola from St Peter's Catholic cathedral Belfast sang Haydn, Mozart and Elgar well and it was good to see Nigel and meet Ian Keatley! Fr Michael Quaqoe suggested we should be having a romantic dinner which I commented could be expensive. However we ate on the patio with good white wine and had a discussion about the importance or otherwise of the work I am doing!