The organist librarian

A good day in the school library clearing up the mess and listening to the Last Night of the Proms (TV version). A great concert! Now catching up on the TV versions of the Marin Alsop and Edward Gardner concerts. RVW Dona nobis pacem a great work unjustly neglected. Sophie Bevan like an angel. Watchedprogramme on Princess Margaret and Great British bakeoff. Thursday to Mass and Noel came to the car to ask about the trip. To Dr Ojo for ear clearing and checked wrist and said nothing broken. I fell over in Glyn Close. 

I have an infection in right ear so operating on one ear for a month and right in the middle of the Proms! I was lucky to see Dr Ojo and he will remove mole on my arm. I got the ear drops. Delightful lunch at Rosemary Callan's. Miss Lyn. She has great plans for the house. The talk was on writing about London. Strange that South London is so neglected by authors. Sad that so many 20 year olds are leaving the city. I commented that Dad said you could tell a Londoner as they were know it alls. Not so true I think now. It is more that Londoners are mostly from somewhere else. A superb concert BBC Scottish and Manze London symphonies of Haydn and RVW. Lovely to have Haydn and very atmospheric and NO applause between movements!!

For Christ the King played Crown Imperial, Stanley Trumpet voluntary (the organ is being tuned tomorrow) and we sang Tony Hemson's Alpha and Omega which really ought to be published. 2 at carol practice.  Delicious rack of lamb, rice pudding and white wine for lunch. At evensong we sang Wood in E flat and RVW Let all the world. Also a fine hymn Earth's fragile beauties to Kingsfold. Blue planet, Howards End. John Sentanu put dog collar on now Mugabe has gone. Pathetic reply from Iberia. Fr John decided not to appoint either of the candidates yesterday. Hope he has not missed out on a good man. Choir directors do not grow on trees. Johnny is local, 

Mass St James day.  Catching up on TV watching Diana our mother.  Diana her fashion story at Kensington Palace beautiful dresses and photos as is the garden which is white for 20 years on.  Excellent John Wilson prom RVW 9 and Planets. Glad I went to preprom talk as broadcast left out 2 stories from Tony Palmer. Holst's room at St Paul's had double glazing so he could be hot for his arthritis. His pen was strapped to his hand. All composers dread old age. Britten was 52 when Prince Philip remarked at Snape "What has the old man written this time?" Britten was so angry he sent the newspaper cutting back to the critic saying you may never come here again and do not call me old!! Home by 9.30 so watched Proms extra and Japanese cities.

Turned out wet. Got parked near Nat History museum in good time for rehearsal which went very smoothly. Back to door 2 and interviewed by the Telegraph about the flags dispute.   We went to the recording of The Choir about Parry's Jerusalem  and I met David Owen Norris in the street and complimented hom in his famous chords on Proms Extra! Full marks to Petroc on Radio 3 for mentioning that we are gallery prommers! As Auntie Flo said it was a once in a lifetime experience and we really enjoyed it! What a wonderful concert - full of lovely music. Florez was superb and brilliant acting. Great to see 16 young singers in Serenade to Music (definitely a desert island piece and we recently saw the score and photos at Leith Hill Place where RVW grew up). Thank you to all our fellow Prommers in the gallery (which alas Katie dd not mention but Sakari did) and to all the staff at the Hall. Linda came up specially to say hello. How proud Mum and Dad would have been - they are comparing ...

A Vaughan Williams day Rhosymedre, New commonwealth, Musette, Land of our birth also Lesley Woodgate's Pastoral song. Organ has been tuned - makes such a difference!  2 proms featuring Tchaikovsky piano concertos and Stravinsky ballets also Helen Grime (or should that be Grim?) and Prokofiev Scythian suite. Long journey home 80 minutes. 

18 in church. Organ so out of tune I did not play Elgar Spirit of the Lord as a result. Sumsion Cradle song, Peeters Canzona, Andrew Moore and Walter Webber on Lobe den Herren. I have no idea why we are singing Lead kindly light to dreary tune Sandon! As I have been told by email that my contract is to end when the church closes for building work I am now actively looking elsewhere.  Lovely concert at the Royal Festival Hall John Wilson conducting the Philharmonia - Sea symphony well sung, Wasps overture and Finzi clarinet concerto. Sally Matthews and Roderick Williams. We saw Susanna Martin and Fr Michael Holman. We went tith the gallery prommers and enjoyed the meal at the Persian Sigurgh restaurant.

Played Dad's Bishopthorpe suite today and Vaughan Williams Rhosymedre. Ciaran has come to stay! Liz went to Boston SO Prom Shostakovich 10. I went to the organ prom by Thierry Escaich - a great variety of sound and some splendid Bach. Watched DVDs of Wizard of oz and Watership Down and made track. AnnMarie came down so I could swop with Liz.

Swam 20, art and worked on Galilee painting, interfaith lunch, delivered some letters reminding neighbours to return the form about getting a back lane gate, joined Kensington library to get scores (which they keep in store) Got a nice card with koalas on it! Lovely prom Debussy, Vaughan Williams and Elgar 2 - Mark Elder conducting the Halle. Annoyed to be told not to use the torch to follow the score. I shall complain to the hall. Watched Nielsen and Hugh Wood on TV recording.Also went to mosaic workshop in Norwood and got tiles and posted BT parcel at post office. Liz's ring to be fixed - insurance does not cover it.

A most successful with 4 different organs; the superb Dobson at Merton, quality Harrison at Lady Margaret Hall, Matthew Copley at St Aloysius Oratory and St Mary Magdalen.I got the Oxford tube with 3 others at 8. Ben Nicholas dleighted to see us at Merton and a superb organ. We heard Widor and Buxtehude and I played Willan and Moore. 8 played. Long walk to Lady Margaret Hall and Nicholas demonstrated the fine Harrison. Had my lunch there and then to St Aloysius oratory. Edward Dove organ builder there. It's very loud!  Got hot salad and coffee. St Mary Magdalen vicar came and told us history, given tea, unusual console and use of glass as a refective surface. Played Whitlock. Saw Saira Malik in Cornmarket giving out Christian literature then to Ashmolean for lovely British drawings and Gillray and the gallery has been rehung really well. Ice cream Oxford blue and Ambassadors and tea then to Christ Church cathedral for evensong. Harwood in A flat, Vaughan Wlliams Easter - superb t...

:Liz is thurifer and I am mitre. Oddly I did not feel as though I had been to Mass. I hardly heard the readings or homily. Don't know why because Paul shows exactly what to do! Arrived at church to be met by Paul and Hayley. He announced he is leaving. Apparently some people have complained to the patrons whoever they are and he is going. He is fed up with John and we agreed he is impossible. It is confidential at the moment. Carrie confirmed it after service. It's a blow and I might need to consider my position as an interregnum will not funny and the church might close if the money runs out. It is of course very convenient. The flies in the ointment are the tuning of the organ and the treasurer! I gave Paul 2 magazines which he was pleased about "Music and liturgy" and PMM newsletter. I wonder if he will go to Rome? I played Willan on Bishopthorpe and Song 34 and Hurford on Song 34. For a change I played the Intermezzo from Cavaliera rusticana which Andrew like...

Woke at 4 a.m. which didn't help! A busy wet Sunday.Liz didn't go to the cathedral because of weather and trains.  Did a pulpit presentation for the Catenians at St Mary's West Croydon at 8 a.m. Mass, played the Couperin Mass for the Convents which was very well received, practised carols with 5 in the choir, lunch at St John's vicarage and then to Adrian's, At evensong sang Howells Gloucester service and Vaugham WIlliams O clap your hands. Benediction and Adrian played L'Ange et la trompette by Jacques Charpentier.

Lie-in and finished reading"The Rabbi's daughter" by Reva Mann - rather a touching tale. To St Michael's West Croydon where Fr John was celebrating for a server and 2 people in wheelchairs. Gianfranco Nicoletti from Sicily played well - Bonnet, Bossi, Vierne, Hollins, Gray, Petrali and Quirici. Watched James Rhodes "Don't stop the music" and the lack of instrumental teaching in schools. Evensong from Hereford. Did not go to preProm Birtwistle session as he was included in Litton's BBCSO programme of Vaughan Williams and the Walton viola concerto. 

Liz dropped me at church. She got in late from the late night Prom which apparantly was fascinating - it did not impress in radio! I played Webber and Gade on Lobe den Herren, also Frank Bridge and Dad and Healey Willan on Bishopthorpe, Home for quick lunch and got to the hall early as a result. At Victoria a C2 bus splashed me so I spoke to the driver "Look at me, all because you drove too fast through that puddle" "I'm sorry about that" was the reply. When we got to the hall I went in the disabled loo and used the drier to dry off stripping off everything! I couldn't get the socks dry. Mary King on the War Requiem. A pity she did not cover more of the music and I dropped off at the end during the CD.  Tea at the RGS travel photographer and picnic in the park. Excellent discussion on the lost generation. I commented about the poor being unable to go to graves in France but forgot to mention family names like Worley dying out. Helen Dunmore and Stephen Hef...

I was at the hall by 4.30 and an excellent talk on Job with Ceri Owen. Once again the lift played up so ended up beyond lift 8. Liz decided not to come as she was late leaving and missed a train. Wonderful Alwyn Symphony No 1 in D, BBC SO conducted by Sakari Oramo in Wasps overture, Lark ascending with Janine Jansen and Job - great bit where full organ comes in - love it! There was far too mcuh loud coughing. Home to hear the late night Prom of Steve Reich conducted by David Hill.

Up at 6.20 and to vigils and lauds. Gave Liz the special card with our photo and told her about the spa package and champagne tea at the Montcalm. She gave me a lovely card and a lovely ring. Breakfast together and Louise and Tom went picking your own. Mass at 11 a.m. was farewell to Tony Hemson the organist. Only knew one of the Laudate hymns but a good setting by Peter Jones. Blessing for us by Fr Nicholas in St Benedict's chapel and then to the Parish centre but the people even those who had been on pilgrimage with us were not at all friendly! Photos outside and then an excellent carvery lunch at Hedley Lodge.Lovely framed tribute from family and hanging from Carol. Family and Carol left after lunch and had a nice rest and listened to the War Horse prom on radio and after Vespers and Benediction with Dennis the Prom of Strauss and Elgar 2 on TV so missed Compline. Dennis to the station and had wine and sandwiches in the room. Monday a little late for vigils - could not hear bel...

Swam 18 and drove to Caterham to practise for Charlotte's wedding. The Prestige organ does not impress especially the pedal sounds. Then on to Old Oxted to visit Philip who has made great progress and prepared circle accounts despite the stroke affecting his writing and eyes. He loves to chat. Home for lunch and Chris the decorator has made a good start on the hall. Liz went to hairdresser and I went to Royal Academy of Music Dukes Hall for final BMus recital be Jeremy Lloyd. Durufle, Alain, Vaughan Williams and Mendelssohn but the best was the Bach. The Academy museum is amazing. Section on WW1 and lovely strings. Not enough time to see the piano gallery. Changed and to Catenians. Juan and Danny have applied and Freddie was very chatty!

Swam 20. Dreamed about Meryl! Paul off to Egham. Ann and I looked through photo albums and did the South Norwood country park walk which was very nice and took an hour. I heard the first part of the cathedral Mass - superb Vaughan Williams Mass and mandatum. Excellent homily from the Cardinal. Did not like the Messiaen beforehand and the lack of a responsorial psalm, At Beckenham only 12 there but went well and good hymns. Lady chapel of repose looked lovely. Masterchef on TV.

To Bloomsbury Baptist for excellent recital by Tom Bell. Vierne, RVW, Bliss and Elgar at which point I slipped out. There was a very smelly man behind me! Fr Christopher at Mass and he spoke about Mothering Sunday. The Zenobia choir from Madrid sang Vittoria. We went to Kent House and drove to Langley Park golf club for Beckenham's dinner which was black tie and quite delightful. Delicious lamb and apple crumble - £25 each. Home by 10.45 and clocks go forward an hour.

We sang Lo he comes at the morning service so I played Lloyd Webber voluntary on it and Sumsion on Veni emmanuel. Liz ahd made cakes for the boys, clergy and servers. Fr Augustine is moving to Walsingham aged 98! Louise arrived for lunch and had a sleep. The carols went really well. Choir of 8. The Rutter Angels'carol and Little road were beautifully sung and we sang On Christmas night and Sing lullaby. Applause was a little odd  -45 there. Mulled wine and mince pies. Antiques roadshow, final fo Choir in the workplace won inexplicably by P and O. I thought Citi were much better and I like Cheshire fire service's sound.