Surestart

One of the really fascinating things about London is how the rich and the poor live so close together yet seldom meet. Battersea Park was a classic in this regard although much was done to improve the Doddington estate. York was not so lucky as some blocks were left while others were refurbished. In fact when I went to Southfields there were "problem" families decanted there from the Doddington estate. Librarians were often left in difficult situations with children left by their parents at closing time. Should one accompany them home? York had other problems. The decision to close mental hospitals and decant everyone into the community meant that the mentally ill turned up. After several anxious staff meetings, I contacted Springfield hospital and the doctor gave me his number. There was a big man who appeared very threatening but if I phoned the doctor he would speak to him and make sure he took his medication. I also organised for the first time a meeting at the library of all council people working in the area - adventure playground, health workers, police, even GPs. Together we started to make a difference to the drugs culture. The best thing was the Surestart scheme to try and break the cycle of unemployed parents raising children to be unemployed by getting reading going at an early age with free books. This really worked and it was tragic that the Tories stopped this. Barry came to York from the mobile service. We had an assistant who had literally got on his bike to meet me (Norman Tebbit had recommended this behaviour!) He got the job. Longstanding staff was Jim Grainger - he had to be told politely to wash! I changed the arrangement of the library completely and put everything back into Dewey order. I designed it so I could see every corner from the desk. This stopped the drugs. I also worked hard on getting all the staff involved in welcoming people. They had been much neglected and needed lots of training. Meryl Jones once said "You want them to love you, you must gain their respect" and "Share your favours around so take tea with different people each day". After all I spent more time with the staff than I did at home so why not enjoy the job together! I relay felt I had a vocation to help people and e certainly did that by answering their questions and helping them to find jobs. Computers were gradually being introduced for staff and public. When I started at Balham, we had trays with pockets. An assistant dropped one in front of me and I recall saying "Don't cry we will sort it out" and we did!
Then there was photocharging (Mr Corbett's great idea) reading the film roll at the end of the day. Very slow process! Then we went to barcodes and scanners. Now nearly everybody self issues but people still like to talk to a librarian! I do! The hours we spent on processing books and changing to new systems! 

Opera

Figaro at  Caterham 1983 with Stephen Hope

St Margaret's music hall 

The programme for Figaro at Streatham Hill school May 1983

Louise in Croydon minster robes. 

Don Basilio 

On the right is Susanna played by Veronica Stephen Rose played for this

With David Smith St Margaret's hall

With Bartolo and the Count

As Bardolpho in Falstaff

Louise in Croydon Minster robes

p.428 review of Madam Butterfly my "fussy Goro which was an exemplar of marriage broking Japanese style". The second Figaro   was with orchestra and Paul Kelly a t Harlequin Redhill. Oct 89 Clive Letchford sang the count.Dennis had beaten the bounds of the Tower of London again. I think the chronology might be wrong here as Butterfly was definitely our last opera with COSi because we ran out of money. I recall twice singing Figaro, Falstaff and Butterfly. I also sang the circus master in Act 2 of Bartered Bride at the Harlequin theatre Redhill, October 1987. One of the performances was delayed because of a bomb scare. In the end we went ahead without an interval. I think Dennis was with me. Paul Kelly conducted. Donald Madgwick did not mention me in his review but commented on Keith Chaundy (also in the chorus) and Veronica Gilbert and the excellent dancers. I also recall going to La Boheme at St Margaret's hall with piano sung by the tenor who sang Curzio. I sang the toy seller in our production and the chorus gathered round my empty tray where I had the words! Verdi's Falstaff is an ensemble piece and great fun. The problem was a producer who knew Shakespeare but had little knowledge of opera. I saw Falstaff at Covent Garden a few weeks after our version and realised how much more I could have done with my drunken character. p.429 photo of me in Butterfly so the date must be 1990. p. 449 Josie and Teresa visited and more cassettes. p. 449 mentions the Queen Mother's 90th birthday parade. I have found an account of this for the St John's church magazine.

Thanks from Clarence House

 It really was the most marvellous day and we sang in the choir for the RSCM. John Scott conducted. p.451 children on cassette. My trip to La Scala Milan to sing the B minor mass with Giulini. Visited Lake Como. The organist at these 3 performances was dreadful and played wrong notes! p.455 me playing for a confirmation. I used to go and meet the candidates and it was a great joy when one asked for the Gathering Mass because he liked it and also requested that we did not sing Taize Ubi caritas as it was sung so much at St Joseph's college! p.459 mention that Mum liked the intermezzo from Cavalliera Rusticana a lot on her radio show a favourite of my Grandma. p.461 Louise singing Rutter at Midnight Mass this was Angel's carol which has become a firm favourite at our Christmas singing sessions at the piano. Louise was in the Croindene singers with Chris Phyllis and went to Truro with them. At one point we were driving between St John's, Croydon Parish church (later became the Minster) and Addiscombe dropping Louise at the PC and Dennis at St John's. Dad mentions my new appointment. This was the long awaited promotion from senior assistant to branch librarian at York Road library. A large building to the North of Clapham Junction. The separate children's library at Winstanley had been closed so we had a children's section and a large hall where we ran an over 60s club. I used to buy cheap presents for the raffle and biscuits. One table complained that they never won! I was there for 3 years and turned it around. The locals were very anti-Council having elected Labour councillors only to find the Tories were moving people out and selling their flats after refurbishment. Of course it was a perfect place to live right near the main station. There was certainly poverty and anything involving food attracted flocks of kids!

Figaro 1989