A Father’s Memory by Joseph Sinclair

Emily’s love of music was exemplified by her flute-playing. I recall a number of incidents associated with that, including duets in our Kilburn home with a fiddle-playing friend.

The best story, I think, involved my treating Emily to a concert at the Barbican Centre given by her “hero” the renowned flautist James Galway.  Before the concert started I told her she should go back-stage during the interval and try to see him.  She was far too nervous, but finally was nagged into doing so.  She came back to her seat well after resumption of the concert, her face beaming.  She had not only spoken to Galway, but he had introduced her to his old music teacher who had shown interest in giving Emily lessons. I agreed to finance these. And never regretted it!

She also performed wonderfully at a convention organised by my friend Lynn Carneston McGregor in 1991 where she had been employed along with Lynn’s son Simon to help with catering and entertainment. (Picture above)

Many years later, when Emily and then husband Mike had been on holiday, I arranged to meet them at Heathrow and drive them home to Faringdon.  To my amazement, Emily appeared in a wheelchair, being pushed by a porter.  It seemed she had twisted an ankle one day earlier.  After Mike and I had helped her from the wheelchair and  put her in the car, I expressed concern about her condition.  She gave me one of her cheeky grins and said: “It’s not that bad, but this way we were able to get priority treatment through immigration!”