Linda’s reference to her mother’s love of poetry reminded me of one of our days out together, just she and I, back in 2002.

Ivy was fond of music, too.  One day, out of the blue, she asked me, “Bob, what’s a toccata?”  Thinking it was a question about music, I did my best to answer before enquiring why she wanted to know.

“It’s in a poem I’ve just read; I couldn’t make sense of it.”

The poem turned out to be by Mary Wilson, wife of the former Prime Minister, Harold.  The line which puzzled, “Remember the Toccata, John,” appeared in a piece dedicated to the memory of John Webster, the Oxford University organist, who was a great friend and had played at Mary and Harold’s wedding.  The poem was entitled St Cross.

St Cross is a 12^th century church in the city of Oxford, and the adjacent Holywell Cemetery is a treasure trove for anyone interested in the lives of the local people.

According to Mary,

“Soldiers and sailors, mountaineers,

Students from far across the world,

Doctors and nurses, engineers

Lie here with dons and scientists

And clergymen, both High and Low;

And over all, the grasses grow.”

Towards the end of 2002, Ivy had been staying with us in Mold and I was due to take her back to London.  “How would you like to visit St Cross on the way?” I asked.  There was no hesitation and so we set off for Wood Green by way of Oxford.  We had a pub lunch at the Red Lion in Islip before arriving at St Cross around four o'clock on 14^th October – a bright and sunny autumn day.  The colours in the trees had to be seen to be believed.

In her poem, Mary Wilson describes the resting places of ten of the occupants of the cemetery, including John Webster, and we were able to locate each of them, together with other notables including Sir John Stainer – composer of The Crucifixion.

It was a splendid and memorable day and I remain forever grateful to Ivy for introducing me to this amazing corner of Oxford.

Bob