Page 170 quotes me as getting a lump in my throat at Bruce's christening at St Chad's 8/1/1983 at the line "him we treasure" in "Blessed Jesus we are here". We had nearly lost him. The other hymns were Lord Jesus once a child, Now in the name of Him and It is a thing most wonderful. "Canon"Smith the MC described it as choral baptism as I found some suitable hymns. Fr David asked us if this could be the first baptism at Mass at St Chad's and we happily agreed. Malcolm and Clare were godparents and we had a lovely party. There is no doubt that Bruce was a very special baby. We spent the whole day listening to Messiah on the radio at King's and he arrived in the evening. Clare told me to go home and get everyone so we all trooped into the labour ward (strictly speaking not allowed) and had photos. Being the youngest he got away with a lot more than the eldest. Louise was just the right age to mother him. Dennis was a rather serious child always reading (bit like me). When Louise was born she was already looking about. She has always been the organiser in our family and so able to do things and meet people something Dennis found difficult. Bruce is very like me in appreciating art and design. All are musical . I think one ongoing problem was Mum and Dad's obsession with Dennis. Any conversation started about one of the other children always came back to Dennis! I certainly tried to love all three as much as each other. In those days the small room was the nursery and the back room was the children's room with bunk beds. Inevitably we needed more rooms so the decision was made to convert the loft into 2 rooms. Unfortunately we could not afford to put in dormer windows.
Dad also says the priest at St Margaret's was moving to Lincolnshire. Eric Young was a fine preacher and was connected to a school of preaching. They retired and Mick Elfred came. He was very different - playing the guitar and perhaps hippy in the past! What a preacher like Eric was doing in a small church in Upper Norwood is a wonder. I got on well with him.
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