THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Dorking, Surrey.

18th October, 1950.

Dear Both

Thank you very much for your kind greetings.
I think it is wonderful that you should take the trouble to remember my birthday.¹
Yrs

RVW

P.S.  I am so glad the Phil are doing your beautiful tune.²

1. VW had celebrated his 78th birthday on 12th October.
2. The work has not been identified; possibly Howells’ Hymnus Paradisi, in the first London performance by the Royal Philharmonic Society (Malcolm Sargent with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and BBC Choral Society) with Isobel Baillie and William Herbert in the Royal Albert Hall on 18 April 1951.