1979

We had no sooner returned from Oz and I was at the Festival Hall to hear the chorus sing the Music makers and Paul Tortelier playing the Elgar cello concerto. Feb 23 Liz confirmed she was pregnant. Delighted of course. We performed Carmina Burana with Muti - I do not like this work a Nazi composer and very tiring for the tenors. We recorded it at Abbey Road studios. Ashcroft theatre Hinge and Bracket and the hilarious Victor Borge at the Albert Hall - I had long been a fan and took cassettes of him with me on my travels. Mrs Earl was very unhappy about the fence between us but it was needed. She came round eventually. Had to cut trees down in the garden - there were a lot of them but we did keep the silver birch. I went to the music librarian's conference in Edinburgh and returned via York. Liz was sick but I went to Barcelona alone. Maazel conducted Mahler 2 at the Albert Hall. We were both able to go on the trip to Paris. At the Albert Hall Mahler 8 featured Elizabeth Connell and Michael Irwin now an actor! Mr Jackson was our piano tuner - he once walked through our new front gate which had just been installed - it was never right after that and got taken down! I w
 ent to the IAML UK music librarians conference in Edinburgh March and included a visit to the Russell collection of early keyboard instruments. I saw Martinu's Julietta at EMO conducted by Charles Mackerras.
St Chad's choir of 21 boys and 13 adults sang evenson g at Addington Palace and 10.30 a.m. Mass at Westminster cathedral Byrd 4 part, Greater love and Mawby Thee we adore. Sept 2.

Liza died 2012 and I served at her funeral

Dennis is born

In 1977 I was transferred to Putney music library. This was unfortunate as working until 8 I usually missed the train. Andrew Baker was from Bedford and very enthusiastic about Malcolm Arnold. I once had to stop him pushing record shelves lying on his back pushing with his feet. Andrew Neeld had been music librarian and was really nasty. We were stuck in one room listening to each other helping the public. Miss O'Toole was in charge - very tall she had the main counter made tall so the public were overshadowed. She had no idea how to cope with a young father wanting more leave! When we went carol singing for the Mayor's charity with the horse and cart from Youngs brewery someone threw an egg. She commented "What a waste of an egg". It was bitterly cold and we ran to the Queen Adelaide where Meryl Jones got whisky! We saw Sinatra and James Last at the hall. K took us to John Curry's skating (Liz had been a keen skater). Went to Royal hunt of the sun and Werther at the Coliseum. Liz was very excited about the Chorus ball and had a lovely full length dress for it. Unfortunately she had high blood pressure and went into King's early. There was a false alarm when I sat with her for the day - I was supposed to be visiting the labour ward! We had been to NCT classes and met babysitting circle folk. Two days later Nov 25 I got to Putney and was told to go to the hospital as fast as possible. I arrived just in time for Dennis being born with forceps. An amazing moment. He was small but beautiful. They stayed in hospital because he had some jaundice. We named him Dennis Peter John. Dennis after Dad's brother who died in the War flying bombers, Peter my choice and John after me. Kevin and Gill came to see him - Kevin was so delighted the first time he had seen such a tiny baby! The next night I went to the ball at Grosvenor House hotel. Lorin Maazel I must meet the new father! Janet Baker was there. It was a splendid evening. I think Jean had Liz's ticket. On the 25th Ann arrived from Tasmania - such a thrill. Had not seen her since I left S.A. 3 years before and so much had happened. Dec 4 Kevin and Gill picked us up from King's. Ross took Ann and I for Midnight at Croydon minster - candles dripped all over my coat - they paid for cleaning. Mum and Dad came and were a great help. Ann kept getting letters from a mysterious Paul Lennox! K and Dolly came to see the baby.

 

Ann and baby Dennis

1976 Gerontius

In March 1976 Mum and Dad came with us on the chorus trip Missa solemnis to Barcelona. We went to the Zoo and saw the white gorilla. Also the Spanish village. The chorus visited Barcelona, Ghent and Orange most years. Later on the opera in Orange - I only ever did Fidelio. We would often do the same concert on a Saturday at Fairfield Hall and then repeat it at the Festival Hall. It was said that Croydon came to hear Beethoven whereas London came to see the soloist or conductor! I note John Walsh ill at the library - he later wrote a funny book about Balham library and pinched some of my jokes for it. March 3 to Arundel cathedral with its bathtub acoustics joined with Norbury parish choir Thiman's Last supper. We were much indebted to Dad's friend Dennis who fixed lots of things in the house and later built the extension to the kitchen. Fr Farmer took us to Petts Wood to sing in the passion with Robert Munns. I record a general absolution at a penitential service at St Chad's! Lovely chorus trip to Lucerne where we visited the Wagner museum. We sang Schumann Das Paradies und der Peri - Helen and Schreier was superb. 15 minutes of applause! Maazel conducted Mahler 2. On June 28 sang Gerontius in York Minster. Janet Baker was superb, Aexander Gibson less so, We were invited to a reception by the York chorus so I rang Nellie to explain. Your tea is on the table. You are late scholars when we arrived! I record many TV and radio classical music events including ballet. The Proms and holiday in Boscombe visiting Christchurch (all on trains and buses). Dad did a lot of decorating for us. In September we were off to Ghent to sing Gerontius with Andrew Davis. Soloists were Alfreda Hodgson, Norman Bailey and Andrew Rolfe-Johnson.We visited Mama and Solly in Brussels. Oct 16 Dream in Swansea conducted by Christopher Seaman. Bob Tear excellent (Liz had a crush on him) Robert Dean sang the bass (he later became chorus master). Vivaldi with Muti and we started to record it at Kingsway Hall but it was never completed because of a poor alto soloist in boots!  Muti could be very difficult. Liz kept on failing her driving test but eventually passed. I had to have some lessons and passed first time. Of course I had my licence from S.Africa. On Dec 16 I record my first Catenian dinner! It was many years later I could afford to join! Kevin and Gill lived nearby and gave us lifts and we spent some very happy evenings together. It was a juggling act with church and chorus and work hours.