It’s over 25 years since I left Mostar and my role as director of the Pavarotti Music Centre. I had to leave, not because I had completed my tenure there, but because I was sacked from War Child for exposing corruption.
All the charity’s patrons resigned in my support, including Pavarotti, David Bowie, Brent Hansen and Juliet Stevenson. Two of the patrons who were most active in solidarity with me were Tom Stoppard and Brian Eno. As well as the resigning patrons there was David Hencke at The Guardian, Jon Snow at Channel 4, Brian’s partner, Anthea Norman-Taylor, Dorothy Byrne, Jane Glitre, Steve Day, Hiroshi Kato, Liz & Peter Huhne, Berry Ritchie, Johnny Carmichael and others giving me the support I needed to carry on with my life. That is just in the UK. In Bosnia Herzegovina the list is much longer.
I was recently invited to celebrate Tom’s life, but couldn’t go for health reasons. I was informed that the Harry Ransom Library in Texas were hosting the playwright’s archive and I offered to send them the many letters and notes I had received from Tom over those difficult years. In return I was told by his family that the Library would make a donation to a music-based charity and I suggested it be the Mostar Rock School. That was agreed.
I may have left Mostar many years ago, but the MORS survives, thrives and continues to carry on with the spirit of what we started so long ago - the overriding principle being to unite all communities with music.
Tom – I have parted with your letters, but was careful to copy them so they remain with me as does my respect for you
