Bruce is baptised

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.

Bruce

1983 gathering

Congratulating Lionel Dakers CBE 1983

Grainne in Hungarian national costume to greet the new baby

Dad with grandson No. 2

Louise little Mum

Claire after Bruce's birth

• One sad incident should be recounted. Just before Christmas Liz had a miscarriage. I was playing for school carols and felt I had no choice but to go home to relieve the babysitter. I could have got Mrs Earl or Karen across the road .When I got to the hospital the next morning the lady in the next bed said Liz had cried so much for me. I was mortified and said I would never do such a thing again. Family was more important than music. I have recounted this story in high schools when we talked about our marriage as I think young people need to know this kind of situation. I  still think I made the wrong decision. The chorus held a 25th anniversary reception at Ironmongers' hall, Barbican 26 Nov 1982.

Page 151 Lionel Dakers in Tasmania - he always spoke of Mum and Dad when he saw me. Dad mentions the carols at St Margaret's - we had a small group formed for Easter and Christmas. Also singing in the semi-chorus of Gerontius with Janet Baker - we have a photo in the hall of this concert at the Festival hall with Andrew Davis. Page 155 Margaret Phillips visit to Hobart - I met her at the Abbey and she remembered it well. Page 157 the arrival of Bruce George. October 24. Page159 Bruce turned over in cot in the car and sinosed but Clare came to the rescue and he was OK. Page 165 Dad describes meeting Douglas Mews and Vernon Griffiths in New Zealand. I was later to meet Vernon's widow. Both of us were given lots of his wonderful organ music - beautifully crafted. He was a pupil of Rootham.
We have been incredibly lucky in our travels all over the world and some things always happen in cities. Cathedral or main temple, the zoo, if a river or lake a cruise, art gallery for me, concerts or organ recitals, try to play organs. A good meal out. If a mountain cable car trip!

Clare at Louise's wedding 2007

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