The organist librarian

To St Mary's West Croydon where Liz and I served at the funeral of Joyce Moore. Matthew played Londonderry Air during the censing - Joyce got me to sing this at a party and really loved it! Louise Sage, Neva, the Beers and Tony were there. It was a fitting tribute with some favourite hymns including "Bring flowers of the fairest". Stan served for Addiscombe for many years and died in 2003. Liz was able to go the small gathering but I went to work for 2 and a half hours and did some ordering. To the cathedral for the wedding of Naomi Waltham-Smith and James Olsen. A very grand affair with 7 priests and nearly all in Latin. Victoria Missa O quam gloriosum, Messiaen and Bach Prelude in C minor played by Matthew Martin. The couple read the lessons and composed "O sacrum convivium" to be sung at communion which was effective. Fr Mark on great form alluding to music in his homily. Unusual readings. Naomi wore black velvet! Wedding lasted 1 hour and 50 minutes - is thi...

This tune keeps on coming up! Adrian played it when we arrived at the church for the wedding. It was set to lovely words based on Psalm 130 for the song we sang on Sunday when Louise and Tom were with us. A children's choir sang it from Carrickfergus Castle on TV at the Last Night of the Proms. They were quite young and short of breath and inevitably their top note was not great. It is not easy to sing if you start too high. In the hymnbook it is set to "I cannot tell why he, whom angels worship, should set his love upon the sons of men" and "O brother man, fold to thy heart thy brother" which actually should go to the tune by Parry. It is often sung to "I would be true". My google search on "O Danny boy" revealed that the words and tune are not that old or traditional! I sang it to words specially composed as Barry's farewell at York library and that was much appreciated.

Liz had collected Louise and Tom from Acton and we had a lovely lunch with champagne ending with a chocolate and cherry birthday cake for Tom's 32nd birthday. We got confetti into their flight bag but Daisy the big case proved inpenetrable. Still we tied balloons on the car and just married ribbon everywhere and used some of the peacock decorations from the wedding on the table. We sang the wedding song to the Londonderry air which I had found for the reception but never got to sing(!), "O no John!" and "I'll walk beside you" which was sung at Mum and Dad's wedding. We took them to East Croydon station and they flew off to the Maldives. We then drove to Travelodge Kew and Dennis took AnnMarie back to Harlow and then came to Kew.