THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

From R. Vaughan Williams,
The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

June 27 [1941]

Dear Mrs Lock¹

I hope you will forgive my writing to you – I want your help & first let me introduce myself as a friend of your daughters Ursula & Rosemary.
There is a refugee lady in Dorking (Austrian) Mrs Sternbach – Her husband is a scientist in Toronto and is earning a good living but, as you know he cannot send any money to his wife here. Up to a short time ago she was earning her living as a domestic servant to keep herself & her daughter aged 16, but some months ago she broke her leg & is now only able to do light work & is therefore very badly off. As she says herself her husband is “moving heaven & Earth” to get her to Canada, but she tells me that the Canadian authorities will not allow this. Do you think you could see your way to help her? or advise me about any steps I could take? His name and address is
Dr Karl Sternbach
University of Toronto
(Dept of Hygiene)

Her address would be
Mrs Sternbach
at The White Gates
Dorking.

Again forgive me for troubling you & believe how grateful I should be if you could help.
Yours sincerely

R. Vaughan Williams

1. Mother of UW. Her husband, Major-General Robert Lock CB, was working in the Ministry of Supply in Ottawa and in a position to help with problems over interned musicians. See R.V.W.: a biography, p.237.