The Gerrard Chronicles 2003 - October & November

Ken’s aunt Elsie died at 90 & we attended the funeral on October 1st. For once, all the cousins were together, gathered from around the globe & we met Lily & Paolo’s son Ricky for the first time. Everyone loved Elsie, although she had been very absent-minded recently.

The Republic AGM was one of our most successful but little did we know of the scandal about the break the day after (Nov 2nd). With injuctions against papers from anonymous plaintiffs, unprecedented in English Law, it transpired that it had been alleged that Prince Charles had done something perfectly legal but the handling raised hot republican issues of misuse of the law. Ken, who controls the web site, skated onto the thinnest ice in the attempt to be found in Contempt of Court but the Establishment did not rise to the bait. However, everything they did was wrong, in that they confirmed the rumours themselves by having that stuffed shirt Sir Michael Peat deny them.

Lots of other things...many plays and films. We continue to be active members of the Lilian Bayliss Arts Club at Sadlers Wells, the Vic-Wells Association and Philosophy for All.

Music - Ken started a piece of music but other things prevented its completion (after about 20 minutes) in this reporting year.

Nick Serota replied to Avis' letter & soon after he received her second letter, she was astonished that he seemed to have taken her opinion on board in a speech to the National Art Collections Fund, agreeing that interesting art did not end in the mid-19thC but rather began then. This was featured in all the national papaers as a shock item.

Concertina Works - Avis is showing in a group exhibition there in Liverpool Road in December. She may have solo show there later.

At the Esporta Swimming Pool, effectively built by Avis, the other class members thought Avis ought to be made a Dame. Ken says they ought to write to Chris Smith, as he wrote to John Major when he was PM & got another friend made a Dame.

The Baldry Family History Society (link) continues to grow & keep Ken off the streets, as does his web work for the Anglo-Germans & 'Republic'.

Charter 88 - while Ken is still on the Council, the organisation is having a financial crisis & may not survive the year.

Two Bath visits, one with the LBAC & one to see the Garrick Exhibition, staying with Charles (Delaforce) Dunlap in his Marlborough House Hotel.