The gayest bones

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) has a spot in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey. I have yet to get there. I sometimes wonder how many music rooms or similar are named for him. Who gathers the statistics on these things? Perhaps I need to set out with a clipboard and start making enquiries myself. 

Until the earthquake of the 22nd February 2011 I was quite happily ensconced in the Britten room on a more or less daily basis. Not a 'sceptred isle' but close. Of course a lot of people think that the Britten referred to is John Britten (of Superbike fame) but they would be wrong. People are fearfully ignorant these days, I'm afraid. It's nothing to be proud of.

The Jazzman

My colleague of the Britten room.

Taken at St Peters.

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The chair at the end is mine.

The Britten room (also known as M4) doubles as an obstacle course on most days.

A handwritten index of songs.

c 1910. I think.

The Britten room is also a treasure trove of musical treats. I haven't discovered them all yet as it is also home to one of the most fiendishly complicated filing systems known to man. It will take patience.