The organist librarian

Peter Stevens played so musically at St Michael Cornhill. Bach, Byrd, intriguing MacMillan, Franck Priere, Durufle Sicilienne and a blistering Toccata. Superb!Really enjoyed Food at V and A with Nelson Ferreira. Thanks Nelson! Big discussion over latte about sponsorship for the exhibition. Very exciting. Liz to maths and I went to Beckenham circle. 

To Meopham for the funeral of Peter Stevens . There was an excellent turnout from Province and further afield including National Council. The parish priest is also chair of KCSP and was not friendly at Ashford sports day. He is autocratic and very much a one man band so no servers! The organist is old and seems to only use one lot of stops. She murdered Mozart, Purcell and Bach! Soloist also elderly. We did not go to the crem but straight to the country club where the company and food were good. Long chat to Charles Nicholls and some networking with directors. Watched Masterchef and Apprentice and programme on Bentleys. 

A stimulating morning at Hurtado centre on the darkness before the dawn. Lunch at Whitechapel gallery. Liz at servers AGM and school dinner after Mass. 4 servers admitted to Guild. Peter Stevens died. The Hurtado session this morning reflected on darkness and we were asked to use the Ignatian idea of looking down on the world with God. I did think half of the world is in the light all the time but there is so much darkness everywhere especially for migrants and in our country so I concentrated on darkness near to home where I might shed a little light e.g. the grief of our nextdoor neighbour and his loneliness. Are films really art? At Whitechapel gallery 30 minutes of grainy shots of Saturn by Tom Ireland very boring. Ulla von Brandenburg's Sweet feast is fun and Mikhail Karikis No ordinary protest is rather touching with 7 year olds reflecting on the environment. Elmgreen & Dragset did not appeal so skipped it as you have to pay. 

Woke late and got to the library around midday. It had been tidied! Liz's class took a lot of books out many of them not in stock and messed the place up! To Shakespeare Road and watched programmes on art in Baku and Lisbon. Seems we missed some goodies . Peter Stevens played well at the cathedral. I am no fan of Messiaen or Guillou but the Franck and Widor were splendid. Nice to see Madeline Smith Marko Sever Graham and Jonathan Holmes. Paul Moynihan barely greeted me and he went and sat near George - pathetic. Worked out I have been playing for 55 years!

To art and cake and photos from the party much appreciated. The Bowes museum Spanish paintings at the Wallace collection are splendid especially the El Greco having recently been in the Prado and Toledo. Cannot say the same about Jasper Johns at Royal Academy. The new loos are a great improvement! I did not go to Dali\Duchamp as I can't stand the Surrealists. Super evensong with combined cathedral and Abbey choirs at Westminster Abbey Victoria and Schutz. Very inspiring to see the boys so close.  Peter Stevens  played the Durufle Toccata brilliantly. Good turnout from the cathedral and I told the Dean SSG will be there tomorrow. John East and Marko there. Some bod tried to stop me sitting in the 4th row with cathedral folk so I told him why I was sitting there and that I had been to the Abbey before. He said lots of people have not. Later he beetled off to the choir. Very officious. Redid letter to Brendan. Watched Simon Reeve in Russia and Bake off extra slice.

Played for a funeral at Caterham. Considering he was 83 on PCC not a great turnout but the church warden said he enjoyed my playing. Met Anne-Marie at station - why did she not attend? He was an 8 oc'clocker. A great pleasure to have tea with  Michael Goldthorpe  in Acton Park.Wednesday o ut to lunch in The Mill house, Churchfields Road and then Acton library. Watched Simon on My great big Jewish conversion. Orthodox Jews against gay marriage despite Tel Aviv being the gay city of the Middle East!  Jonathan Holmes played well at Holy Trinity Sloane Street. Bach, Wagner, Heiller and an attractive Mandala by Hans-Andre Stamm. This cathedral of the arts and crafts is gloomy with dark stained glass and modern chairs. Brilliant playing by  Peter Stevens  at the Cathedral. Bach, Mozart, Tournemire and stunning Durufle. I am not surprised radio 3 gave him a miraculous performance award.

To Warlingham for coffee then Aylesford for KCSP Mass with Bishop Paul Mason for 600 children who were having a great time! Catenians mentioned at Mass and I ga ve out Bursary Fund posters to the secondary school students. To Rainham to collect 3 Catenian cups and then to Peter and Marcela Stevens for tea. Provincial executive group meeting. 110 miles in all and the weather went from sunny to rain! The cups are lovely. The music was provided by the Southwark Catholic youth service - very happy clappy but the kids loved it. 

Gave out Explore leaflets before the marriage anniversaries Mass at St George's cathedral Southwark. It was good to several friends there celebrating!! To Battersea Park peace pagoda and lots of speeches on a rather cold afternoon. Pat Gaffney and the Mayor of Wandsworth spoke well. Good to see friends there and the sister from Amaravati monastery. Fr John celebrated at the cathedral and smashing Franck chorale No. 3 at the end. Good chat to  Peter Stevens .

Whole day at St George's cathedral Southwark rehearsing for the ordination of Bishop Paul Mason.  Mags did a god job in the morning but Canon Alan was just too much. He loves himself and wastes too much time. Some comments were inappropriate in front of children. Good music choices by Paul. The diocesan choir are cliquey. Had tea outside the Imperial war museum and showed Liz the peace garden.  Vespers and Mass for Corpus Christi with Canon Christopher. Loved the Victoria Wood tribute.Long phonecall to Peter Stevens and agreed to support the Kent schools day on July 4th. Jerry indicated that safeguarding applies to emails so have to use the Catenian one for the church! Steak for dinner. 

Swam 20. Spoke to Paul 'Fuzzy; and he has been on to the college chaplain and archivist still  waiting for the Head! Booked overnight stays in S.A. look really good. Rob Sceales is coming - the replies so far are great. To Bromley library and got 11 scores - staff very helpful. Saw a lovely book about the English landscape and composers. The only one not found was Gorecki. Late meal and just got to pre Prom talk on Mahler in time - it was full and I was sleepy. I spoke to the floor manager about being 'on air'. Waking up too early and working on dissertation adjustments. Excellent concert Mahler 2 Janssons conducting Bavarian radio SO. The chorus in white tie and tails came on after part 1 - they were amazingly quiet so much so that I couldn't hear them! Stayed on for Bach conducted by Gardiner - excellent but sleepy. Saw Peter Stevens and Joey Draycott from afar.Home by 12.15. 

Liz to cathedral. I went to St Michael Beckenham and arrived at 10 a.m. Met Steve the thurifer who plays and is doing ordination training in Oxford 2 days a week. Met the Bishop of Rochester who I met at Hayes and Paul introduced me to lots of people. Robed choir of 3. I played Bach, Mawby and Cook for Candlemas and all went well. Shared lunch and I reckon every member of the congregation of 35 spoke to me very enthusiastically.Paid cash by treasurer. We went through the Kontakion for Alan's funeral and I corrected vowels! The Bishop came and had a play too! He is very approachable. I got to St Paul's cathedral late for Stephen Cotterill's talk on Stanley Spencer's paintings of Christ in the wilderness which are in Perth, W.A. It was standing room only. To Suthwark cathedral for evensong - 4 cathedral chaplains were welcomed and Frank and Phillipa Millingotn were there to support the curate from St Mary Addington whose post has been deleted. Noble in B minor, William ...

Swam 21. I think I have gained weight having not been at the pool for a week! To Watermans and Ciaran really enjoyed the session with Merle. To Sainsburys for fish and chips then I left to get to the Hinsley room in good time. Excellent first session on Sharing Eden with David and Natan 2 of the authors giving invaluable insights. To Marks for tea and toasted sandwich. Chat to Francis and Michael and then to Peter Ste vens recital which was excellent and a reasonable audience. Bach, Buxtehude, Franck, Fricker, Messiaen and Durufle. Rosa and Fr Dominic were there - results not posted until Friday - most annoying!

Woke in night so read more of The tiger's wife which is excellent - in fact finished it. Set off to take Ciarán to North Sheen recreation ground but trains cancelled so to Chiswick where I bought Pilgrim's progress and 2 more paperbacks and Liz went about signet ring. Lunch at Ravenscourt Park and C had longest swing ever! Turned out nice. I had brought scores for Thursday instead of today so went home to get them and water garden, etc. To cathedral excellent recital Bach, Franck and Vierne Symphony No. 1 all with scores. Good audience too. To Windsor Castle with Nick, Ross, Martin, Peter, Edward Tambling (not my favourite person), David Grealy (his last day) and Fr Alexander on great form. Found it very noisy with hearing aid in and missing a lot! Last train from Gunnersbury thanks to phone internet connection.

David Attenborough on fossils was interesting. Only one more Saturday to go - I was a couple of minutes late today. Threw out more old videos - sad to think that technology has overtaken them. To Mass at cathedral and arrived at offertory so all those dreary visits to Tooting Bec could have been avoided but I do like to be there for the whole service! Good choir from Shepton Mallet and Bach Fantasia in C minor. Excellent servers supper in the hall - starter, sausages and cake. Enjoyed chatting to Peter Stevens and Fr Michael Durand.

Did not sleep well again. Put away short sleeved shirts and sorted out some to give away - I won't need so many now! Haircut and tidying up. Arrived at St Andrew's early and set out cakes for the break, Rather disturbed by man who came in and said he wanted to sit in the church. I said I was sorry but No as I was on my home, He said "What are churches for? " but he left. The recital went well. I played Peeters, Ireland, Howells, Jackson and Armstrong Gibbs and it was appreciated. Norman Harper was complimentary and did not know Howells Sine Nomine prelude. After juice and cakes Martin Ball spoke about King's Cambridge organ and Rodney Williams spoke about being a chorister under Boris Ord. He was amusing and Charles Hazell joined in. Ann was there too - nice to see her again. To Cathedral and got diary at St Paul's. Vespers and Mass - Mill Hill fathers and Challoner choir singing Peter Hurford's In the hour of my distress and an unaccompanied Tantum ergo w...

Monday to Catenians after work - 10 of us, 12 visitors including Peter Stevens the Provincial President fresh from a trip to South Africa. Very fine Emperor concerto with Paul Lewis from the Proms. Tuesday to JCC with director - I mentioned all the publicity about volunteers running libraries which we agree would never work. Who is going to volunteer to work until 8? Reading group discussed Straw dogs and found it controversial and negative.