Alphabet associations

[Anna]

Many apologies for my enforced absence - we've had a rather traumatic few hours here!

Well thank goodness the good citizens of Suffolk are indeed good citizens and handed in the card! What a palavar it is, cancelling cards and waiting for replacements, quite traumatic indeed. A good stiff drink for you and Mrs. Norfy is recommended.

And Lats, there's so many answers now on this thread, can you do a tidy resume of the correct solution please, just to keep things tidy for us who have only just looked in?

[Lateralthinking1]

Ball.

[amateur51]

I am really sorry to hear about Mrs Norfy's misfortune. It's a horrible experience, and such hassle. I hope the plumber is not too costly either! Poor you.

Heartily seconded, Flay. A very nasty experience for poor Mrs Norfs

And yes, here's to a resonably priced plumber too - the twenty-first century write large

Best wishes all round, Norfs

[subcontrabass]

Ball.

An earlier expert on plainsong.

[Lateralthinking1]

I would think Frere.

[subcontrabass]

I would think Frere.

Got there at last:

Walter Frere, founder member of the Community of the Resurrection, Bishop of Truro 1923–1935

Sir Ivor Atkins, briefly assistant organist at Truro Cathedral
Sir John Dykes Bower, started his professional career as Organist at Truro Cathedral

Giles Farnaby, composer of 51 pieces (all except one (two?) of his known keyboard works) in the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, born in Truro

[Lateralthinking1]

Yes but remember that it is spin to describe anything other than Elizabeth's collection as virginals. Hers were the only ones described as virginals on publication.

Anna - scb's resume should help with your question.

Sorry to hear about Mrs N's news.

[subcontrabass]

We now await a U from Lateralthinking1.

[Lateralthinking1]

What U links

- An English counter-tenor born in Manchester who is the son of a professional golfer
- The leader of a string quartet that lasted 39 years whose son is a professional violinist
- An Anglo-Irish classical composer who lived with gypsies to learn East Anglian folk songs

or a U that links

- A halloween ballad in Scott's Minstrelsey of the Scottish Border
- The place in Scotland where a Greek baroness sang in a winning way
- An opera started by a Frenchman and completed by a Chilean sixty years on

[mercia]

- An English counter-tenor born in Manchester who is the son of a professional golfer
- The leader of a string quartet that lasted 39 years whose son is a professional violinist
- An Anglo-Irish classical composer who lived with gypsies to learn East Anglian folk songs

thanks for the very straightforward clues, Lat1 - I can cope with them. Are you an old Uppinghamian? .......... like these three gentlemen:- Robin Blaze, Peter Cropper and E J Moeran. wikipedia is rather enigmatic about the gypsies - "no further details are available" U = Uppingham (School). I won't be greedy and attempt your other question. Whoever gets that can set V