The new millenium

P.1426 I recorded cassettes starting with Mum's favourite "I'll walk beside you". We spent New Year's Eve at the home of the Parsons. Susan conducted the choir at Addiscombe and the children's choir started thanks to her and Ann Moynihan. I recall much laughter at "Big pantie woman". We watched the TV and the Queen awkwardly singing Auld Lang Syne with Tony Blair from the millenium dome. Liz visited it but I gave it a miss.P.1427 Dad says the Hallelujah chorus came off. Liz gave me the Barenreiter complete organ works of Bach.I have played some of them! At the start of the year we were invited to St Mildred's and Val Hamer presided. Out of respect for Fr Peter I did not receive. How sad I felt! Val later became a Canon of Hereford. There was a strong link. On one occasion Mgr Moran fell at the early Mass on Sunday and he was being prayed for at St Mildreds at 10 a.m. When Martha Nestor died the then vicar came and spoke at the funeral about how Martha was their first caller when they moved in next door.She was a lovely person and Mike Nestor missed her so much. p.1428. P.1430 Dennis visited Prudhoe and saw Nellie who was shuffling and deaf. The complaint from Karen continued. I resigned from the Guild council. I should say I attended several of the Guild days around the country and presentation ceremonies. John Ewington was pompous and rude. P.1435. P.1438 Nellie on hospital and unlikely to return to Park Grove. P.1439 I asked for the keys. Audrey had power of attorney. P.1443 we sang in Baltimore on TV! This was part of a tour of The Creation arranged by the Vatican. All denominations were invited including Mormons and Adventists. On our one day in Washington we did the driv e by tour to see Kennedy's grave. The big surprise was the carved text of Robert Kennedy's Wits speech next to his grave. Kevin and Gill accompanied us. JFK's death was a clear turning point for our generation. p.1450 Mum's birthday and I requested the Thalben-Ball elegy.

Europe 1968

January 1965 we went by steam train to East London and the car went on the train as well. We stayed at Palm Springs Kidds Beach Ann and I sharing a room. I mention trips to the cathedral and Rhodes university at Grahamstown. I derived much pleasure from reading the BBC Listener magazine and was most upset when it was discontinued. I had grown up with "The Eagle" and general knowledge comics. Our next door neighbours at Palm Springs were the Brookes a Pentecostal minister and they had 5 daughters whose names spelt Hope and Joy. Hazel, Olwyn, Pauline, Elwin and Joy.
On 7 June 65 I record hearing the Voice of America broadcast of the landing of James McDivitt and Edward White the second man to walk in space. In July I took part in a church census of Mayfair.  I seem to have had lunch with Felicity quite often - she was on the History of Art course with me. We went to the art gallery to see St Thomas by El Greco and the attendant told me people stuck chewing gum on the pictures! I did a talk on ecumensim for the youth fellowship.
1965 ended with me working at Orange Grove CNA and a good carol service at St Mark's.
1966 was memorable for the visit of Robert Kennedy. He said

Yet many of the world's great movements, of thought and action, have flowed from the work of a single man. A young monk began the Protestant Reformation, a young general extended an empire from Macedonia to the borders of the earth, and a young woman reclaimed the territory of France. It was a young Italian explorer who discovered the New World, and 32 year old Thomas Jefferson who proclaimed that all men are created equal. "Give me a place to stand," said Archimedes, "and I will move the world." These men moved the world, and so can we all.

”

The notable phrase "ripple of hope" came shortly thereafter:

“

It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others or strikes out against injustice. He sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest wall of oppression and resistance." This was at the University of Cape Town and I was astonished to find these words near his grave in Washington D.C. I appear not to have my diaries for 1966 and 1967. I think that about this time I first encounterd Maurice Sherman, His brother was a music critic and Maurice had a large collection of records, I would go to his flat in Yeoville and we would listen to music with the scores from the excellent music library in the City. He introduced me to Bruckner, Mahler and Wagner. Mum and I would go to SABC orchestral concerts. On one occasion Anton Hartman attempted to conduct a Bruckner symphony. It was so slow that it beat all recordings we knew for length and a lady dropped a box of mint imperials in the slow movement. Maurice and I got the giggles and had to leave - a merciful release! On one occasion he put his arms round me. I did not lke this at all as I had been obsessed by T.E.Lawrence who refused all bodily contact. The Shermans were Jewish but I do not recall much discussion about religion.

On page 79 Dad introduces Dean ffrench-Beytagh. I have his book and I met him later on Westminster bridge in the 70s. He was then at St Vedast Foster Lane - something of a failed character I think. He goes on to talk about the 7 week 1968 trip to Europe. I have my little book with notes from this trip plus Mum's diary. We visited 15 countries Angola, Spain, Luxembourg, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, England, Austria, Yugoslavia, Italy, Switzerland and France. page 80 mentions the Salzburg concert with the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Karl Bohm with Daniel Barenboim playing the Brahms piano concerto no.1 This was the moment I knew I had to be in Europe. The SABC orchestra was very poor and the conducting by Anton Hartman truly awful. Edgar Cree did his best and the audiences were willing to accept anything. I had a great time in Paris. My day in London 18th August   featured the National gallery, Tate gallery, meeting Alan and Rosemary Hall, Proms queue too long so went to Swan lake at Royal Festival Hall.
In 1967 I read 75 books mostly English literature for the degree but a smattering of books about nature, royalty and history. In 1966 it was 64. In 1968 I read 62 including 9 set books.
The trip to Europe seems to have been unsettling but also galvanised me to save up. By staying at home I was able to save. Having completed my degree I began an honours degree in English with the University of South Africa by correspondence. I did not find this easy despite Michael Leighton Fr John's son who was a university lecturer in English. I did eventually complete the degree. I only read 38 books in 1969. This was the time that I worked as a student at Johannesburg public library. I had done an aptitude test which came out with librarian or university lecturer as top careers for me. I loved working in the library meeting the public and helping people find books and information. This experience stood me in good stead when I went to work there full-time. In the meantime I returned to Wits to do a postgraduate diploma in librarianship. This was solidly based on the British system. Ranganathan bored us but we learnt a lot. This was when I met Lynn Stagg again - I first met her in 1965.

My graduation on 1st April 1967 B.A. and Lynette Stagg graduated with me. 

In 1967 I wrote to "The Star" newspaper about the SABC's ridiculous habit of translating the titles of musical works into Afrikaans. It was published but there was no change of policy.