The organist librarian

Drinking white wine and listening to the new Worcester service by Thomas Hewitt Jones. 

To Hurtado centre Wapping for meditation on Mary Mother of mercy then St George's cathedral Southwark for Your Catholic legacy Mass, nice lunch and talk by the Mizens. Met a Catenian and a potential Catenian. Arcbishop Peter Smith walked off when I was talking to the Mizens but saw him later. To the Jewel house Westminster and Painting with light at Tate Britain and watched the dancers in the Duveen gallery. Fr Quaqoe at Mass. To Big iftar at West London synagogue - lovely food and saw Rabbi Neuberger and met several people.  Played Bliss Royal fanfares (which we had at our wedding!)  Thomas Hewitt Jones  Fanfare for Queen's 90th, Moore Nobilmente and Crown Imperial which was much appreciated as was Lead me Lord. Practised with 3. Evensong at St John Upper Norwood marking RSCM Music Sunday Howells Collegium Regale Britten Jubilate Deo When in our music God is glorified. Enjoyed the Royal coverage especially the Weir anthem.

Lovely John Lewis carol service with gorgeous new carol by  Thomas Hewitt Jones  which he must send to  Stephen Cleobury  !!It's called A Golden tree - great words by Paul Williamson. There were some interesting items by Philip Stopford and Praetorius, also Chilcott and Poulenc. Excellent choir and nice to have Authorised version read in the cathedral. We even had a sung dismissal of the choir in the Lady chapel! Watched Masterchef professionals final and Christmas university challenge.

Asked Tommy about an anthem for our 40th wedding anniversary. £500 sounds reasonable enough and I suggested some texts from Tobit. 

To St John's for organists association AGM - I did not stay for the actual meeting! Richard Pilliner and Norman Harper were there and nice that Fr John welcomed us. I gave out the posters for the recitals. Adrian gave an excellent recital showing off the organ's many colours - it included Tommy's Intrada, Howells, Whitlock, Cocker Tuba tune, Bach and Dupre. Nice tea with cupcakes. Vespers and Mass with Fr Paolo. Met Robert Munns and his wife before he practised for his recital. He walks with a stick but talked about Fr Matthias now 85 and Fr Farmer's sister.  Finished the Pierce book. Louise had arrived with Ciaran. Much discussion about where Bruce is to stay!

Vespers, Mass and procession - we were acolytes. Emmanuel as cross was a pain! Good to have the men of the choir there. Home late. Liz was at college and I worked on the essays when I cam back from Croydon. Sunday to St Augustine's Hammersmith for 12.15 first communion. The choir were more friendly no doubt recognising me from last week. and the priest said Good morning. John Maccarthy paid me and conducted. His tempo slowed as soon as the singing started! Thank goodness I said I would play the keyboard and not the organ in the back gallery. It would have been disastrous! Home by 2.20. The 2 essays have gone in after much polishing. At evensong we sang Dyson in F and Hewitt-Jones My beloved spake. Can't believe it is a year since Dave and Bridget's wedding!

To All Saints Warlingham for my first free lance - £30. Lovely churchyard which is very large and touched by war graves - RAF man aged 21. Service went well - Thorne Mass and Purcell "O God the king of glory" which I conducted. Fr Jeremy doesn't decide the Eucharistic prayer until he gets to it!?? How helpful is that to the visiting organist! Played Bach Ascensiontide prelude on the fine William Hill organ. Many appreciative comments! To St John's for an excellent lunch provided by the choir. Good to have Louise with us and had a lovely chat to Ruth. Bishop Christopher was there. Tea and then evensong with "How lovely are thy dwellings" (so much better in German) Stanford in C and I was glad. Nicholas Ansdell-Evans played a super piece at the end. Nice to see former choir and congregation members. Tommy Hewitt-Jones very reassuring about the All Saints business. Fr Leonard is the problem  - he was friendly and agreed to open the church for the torch relay. W...

We sang "O sons and daughters" at baptism and first communion - 2 of the family were baptised and then received. 5 pieces of paper! I played Hallelujah chorus and then headed straight to St John's for rehearsal for THE wedding. Thomas Hewitt Jones was there and his anthem has been published by RSCM. "My beloved spake" and it is excellent. Home for lunch after picking up Liz. To Glyn Close to photograph and measure for Dennis. I just missed the train at Herne Hill to take me to hear Arnfinn play at St Paul's so went to Westminster cathedral instead to hear Martin Baker. He played Resurrection by Dupre, a wierd Saga IV by Guillou and his own stunning improvisation on "O filii et filiae".