THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

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

Nov 4 [1940]

Dear Miss Glasgow

 – Dorking C.E.M.A. concert¹
There have been most annoying delays – The Dorking Cinema people will not answer my enquiries  – there are now two possibilities
(1) Pavilion Cinema – holds 800 – But no proper place for an orchestra (see enclosed plan) – anyway it would have to be on the floor & quite close to the orchestra  – 24 is the most we could get in.
(2) County school hall – we can get this for certain. Holds about 4 to 5 hundred, nice small stage (would hold 20 to 25 players) – But it is not in the centre of the town.
Also the blackout is not complete yet – they say it will be ready
(When is blackout on Dec 15? If we started at 2.30 I think it w^d be all right
We can have that Saturday Dec 14 or Sunday Dec 15 – I fancy Sunday – as Saturday is not early closing in Dorking. Is Dec 15 too short notice?
Yrs sincerely

R. Vaughan Williams

P.S. I have not heard yet definitely from the director of the Dorking Pavilion – he lives at Chesham Bucks & the telephone is out of order

Would it be worth while for you to write or try to telephone – address
S. S. King
Embassy Cinema
Chesham
Bucks
(Telephone Chesham 141)

On separate sheet plan of Pavilion accommodation.²

Yrs sincerely

R. Vaughan Williams

1. Committee for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts.
2. Page 4 has sketch plan headed ‘Pavilion Cinema Dorking’ with sketch of layout for music stands and chairs on stage, and note ”Holds very approximately 22 players – but very awkward’.