Martin How

Andrew Greenwood made a good impression rehearsing the chorus. Liz worked as polling clerk at elections. Sawallisch conducted Brahms requiem on Liz's birthday and I listened in to the relay. I often recorded these concerts and sent the cassettes to Hobart. Of course I wrote once a week to Mum and Dad and Ann. One work which was sure to have me going sick was the Brahms Alto rhapsody! We celebrated Louise and Dennis's birthdays with parties. Dec 12 we had a successful party before the Fairfield Hall concert of Faure Requiem (as usual not full). The following day the Festival Hall was full for the same concert with Andrew Davis and Elgar 1 which I love. I fetched the kids home in a blizzard. Dec lots of parties - staff, chorus, carol singing. Dec 24 Martin How had us singing carols at Lady Scott's near Addington palace. Talk about rich man in his castle and poor man at his gate! The Norbury boys did not turn up but Martin carried it all off superbly. I recall him doing the same at Addington Palace when the piano started to move across the floor when he was playing Brahms! Liz sang at midnight mass and I went to 11.15 on Christmas day followed by drinks and cake in the presbytery. Fr Farmer would have his own strawberry tart at these dos! Boxing day we went to Carol's in Soho. Mum and Dad came for New Year's Eve.