The organist librarian

Liz to prom I went to St John to hear the excellent Jonathan Vaughn. He signed his Tchaikovsky CD for me. Good to see Crydon Minster folk including Martin How and  Andrew Scott. Interesting programme Parry, Sowerby, Alain and Elgar. 

A large breakfast at St John Upper Norwood and the chance to hear from residents of the Sylvan Hill hostel.  Watched Father Brown. Slow progress on jigsaw. Liz has assembled her new office chair. Cardinal Vaughan schola at Mass and they sang Rheinberger Kyrie. Johnny Vaughn on design programme at Wells. We met a nice couple on the train Spanish and German teachers. 

14 in church. Played Stanford Gartan, Pachelbel and Walther Jesu meine freude and Murrill Postlude on a ground ready for the Festival Hall organ! More work on old photos for the family tree. I sang at evensong Stainer in B flat and Wood Expectans expectavi. To All Saints West Dulwich evensong there only finished at 7.30 so recital by Jonathan Vaughn started late. Met Alan Littell who is deputy organist there and plays at Addiscombe. Anthony Sisley plays at Our Lady's and at Anerley! Harpers, Carl jackson and the Vaughns were there. Watched War and Peace, circus and story of zoos.

Swam 20 with Liz. Liz got an alb from Anerley for Lourdes. To art and the charcoal is did of my school badge and lilies is to go in the exhibition tomorrow! Good selection of art to display. It was hot. Took fliers to Alan and had tea and a chat. To St John's for Jonathan's recital which was memorable. Wagner, Saint-Saens, Whitlock, Ireland, Mendelssohn 5 and Willan. Alan's photocopied scores have fingerings and some very difficult passages. Good audience including Martin How and Robert Cooper. Jonathan has small hands but very flexible thumbs! Ian Tompsett was there.

Having not had a swim I set off to St George Hanover Square in rain to hear Jonathan Vaughn. He played much the same programme as at Bromley but I agree with his mother that it sounded better on this organ. The Bach brightened the dull day, the Bridge was a lovely moment and the Vierne was a good ending -  a well balanced programme including the Sweelinck. So much better than the superficial Daniel Moult! To National Gallery £7 to see the stunning Veronese - 50 great pictures, wonderful colours and fabrics. He seemed to be able to do everything! His animals are particularly fine. I thought the shop items were pathetic reproductions. Also saw the small exhibition on architecture in paintings which The Tablet reviewed and the 5 short films accompanying it. To National portrait gallery and enjoyed the special displays especially the one on the blind in the 19th century and the Boer war. To Cassart and bought brushes set (Father's Day present from Louise) and acrylics - this is gettin...

Scanned a lot of photos and printed some off to take to York. Dropped everyone at Selhurst and to Bromley Parish church for Jonathan Vaughn's excellent recital of Franck, Bach, Sweelinck, Widor and Parry. He played well and I bought his new CD of Wagner played at St Mary Redcliffe. His programme for St John's sounds great! He is now at Wells. Back to Selhurst and to South Bank where we sat outside in the sun and then got the London Eye cruise which was very enjoyable. The boys enjoyed playing in the Jubilee gardens. We came home for dinner and I again played the piano and sang a bit. Voice is rusty! Packed small case and fell asleep during Rev. Saw the mouse again this time in the lounge - horrid things.

A most interesting Channel 4 programme by Dr Christian on how one cannot be treated for being gay - some of the "treatments" were awful or absurd! Cleaners came to Scotch guard the carpets. Listened to Wells cathedral evensong and Jonathan Vaughn played Bach very well.

Jesus College Kuhn and Sutton organs. Friday back to the pool and after the Lord Mayor's show! Set up small book sale. To doctor about pains in right leg and back - he checked me over and gave me powerful painkillers as ibuprofen can affect stomach lining. To choir practice which was more relaxed - Ella was pretty hyper again. Saturday May 23rd Liz took me to Shirley for 7.15 a.m. lift with David and Sheila. We reached Robinson college staff car park early - around 9.30 a.m. Daniel Trocme Latter gave an excellent demonstration of the Frobenius organ and we enjoyed playing it. A lovely walk across the Backs to Trinity college where the organ scholar Michael Waldron played Bach. Bromley and Croydon organists played first so East Surrey group had to wait! Very awkward stop jambs on the Metzler. A stunning chapel. To Little St Mary's where Christian Rutherford greeted us and the scholar Sebastian Smallshaw played Howells and Parry very well. This is a fine Tickell beautifully const...

Wednesday to osteopath and 3 students this time who worked on my left shoulder as I have no discomfort in side or back. They were impressed at my promming and swimming! Came home and Lauren had prepared nice BBQ with lots to eat. She ws having a quiet day and the new router meant she could use her laptop downstairs. Tried to use laptop to download music without success. To St John's to put pot of orange begonias with message for Mum and Dad's 2nd anniversary. Spoke to Ann and Dennis. Ann had been to Christ Church St Lawrence with Snowy and they had marked the first anniversary with Bairstow just as I did! Mum and Dad were prayed for and the priests remembered Ann. To Westminster Cathedral for organ recital by John Scott on sparkling form. De Grigny, Durufle, Alain and Eschaich all worth hearing but not Messiaen. It seems I am not alone on this one! Met Martin Ball, Adrian, Arnfinn (soon to compete in Montreal), Isabella, David just arrived from Dublin, Martin Baker. It was a go...