Oxford and Cambridge

I joined the Bromley and Croydon Organists association with Christopher Town it's amazing Secretary and I have been on the commitee for many years. I was President. We have visited many organs and held workshops. Unfortunately the annual dinner which we have attended falls on a Saturday making it impossible to get there from Mass.
I organised visits to college organs initially doing a recce and using email. The first was 6th March 2004 with the help of Helene la Rue. Her mother knew Dom Gregory Murray and attended Our Lady's. Helene was curator of the Bate collection of musical instruments so she knew all the organ scholars. John Brennan who wrote the definitive guide to Oxford organs met us. University church, Bate collection, Christ Church cathedral and lunch at Christ Church, Merton college, Brasenose college (Ed Davey went there), New College and best of all Queen's. 6 organs!

Operation 2001

P.1472 Richard Hurfor d  became Bishop of Bathurst. Our charity CD was sold for £10 and features both choirs and solos. Karen resigned from the library. Louise changed jobs. P.1474 we were singing carols at various places. Kurt Ison liked my Handel and Mendelssohn on the CD p.1483. P.1486 talk of moving Nellie. I sent 10 of our C Ds to be sold in Oz. Dad sent me all his organ music! 500 pieces. elijah's mantle fell on Elisha. The junior choir photo appeared in CMS p 1492. I sent details of the book Holiness. P.1500. Diamond wedding at Sydney Tower p. 1501. My right knee was drained at May day arthroscopy. This occurred on the day before Palm Sunday 2001. Fr Peter was my first visitor telling me not to worry. What emerged was that nobody else knew where the music for the Vigil was in the cupoard! Helene la Rue played for me. It took a month to recover. Hydrotherapy was advised and I was filmed for the May Day hospital TV in 'the pool. On the Thursday my feet were washed by a male nurse a new experience. I was home for Easter and Paul brought me communion. It was a rare moment of faith knowing Jesus the risen Lord was in our bedroom! We of course talked about the liturgies. Many in the ward were Afghans who need arrived became pizza delivery drivers and came off their mopeds!
P.1502 boxes of organ music arrived. I did play Vierne without feet at Farnborough Abbey later on. The Organists visit included Sandhurst. P.1503.p video of Brahms requiem.I was off until May 19. We got Nellle settled in a lovely new home  outside the city. P.1505 Mum was 82 and when I went back to work I started late each day to avoid traffic. Heather and Fred Brokenshire visited us and  Dad was again in touch with Hugh Mathew. P.1511 Nellie had a stroke and went into hospital.p.1512 Nellie died aged 79.p.1514 I went to York twice and the Lord Mayor of York attended the cremation.

Helene played the Vigil for me she died 2007