1980

Tom did all our electrics. I played a Hungarian hymn at the funeral

At Louise's wedding 2007

Wedding day! 

The year began with a RSCM evensong at Chichester cathedral. I think the organ broke down but we continued! An evening with Queen Victoria at the Old Vic featured Prunella Scales and Ian Partridge. Years later I issued Prunella her freedom pass at the library! We began to go to Chorus again the Missa and Beethoven 9. Maazel conducted the Missa. We went to  St Mary Cray for a good concert featuring a viola and Fr Farmer. M and D celebrated 40th wedding anniversary. March 22. Clare Kedves delivered Louise and later Bruce and was a great support for Liz feeding the babies. In those days the Maundy service was broadcast on radio and it was from Worcester cathedral. Our colour TV came on April 3. April 26 went to see Laurence Irvine in New Moon at Stanley Halls - I later worked with him at Earlsfield library. Tall and gangly and always nice. He married at Trinity church Tooting -  at Trinity church I met my doom he would say and they had a daughter. Years later he was mugged for his wedding ring. May 7 first swimming lesson with Dennis and enjoyed it. This was the spur to learn and I had absolute trust in Julie Smith. She had been an Olympic swimmer in Melbourne Olympics and I went every week to Crystal Palace to learn. Even saw Duncan Goodhew training! We regularly went to Oxford Gardens or Mum and Dad came over. Sang in Lobgesang - Muti was ill so Adam Fischer stepped in. He was excellent. In July to Boscombe with trips to Romsey Abbey, Broadlands, Marwell zoo. July 19 Rosemary and Lyn Callan got married. We knew Lyn from St John Ambulance at the hall and had been to his Earlsfield home for dinner. Brendan came from Hobart and we took him to Greenwich and into Kent looking for oast houses. He is an architect. In September we went to Basle to sing Mahler 8. Charles Spencer had convinced the promoter that we could manage both choruses and we did it! We stayed on a boat on the river and visited the zoo and art gallery. Boat trip on Rhone and up the Jura. In October I was one of the lucky ones who sang Judas Maccabeus at La Scala, Milan with Mackerras. The locals did not like this English choir appearing and insisted that there had to be a gap between the rows for the safety curtain! Visited Isola Bella and Lake Como. Oct 18 to Christ in Croydon and my group was good.

 Basle