THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates
Dorking

[25th August 1940]

(Forgive wartime paper)

Dear Iris

It was very good to have news of you – why not stick to farming? – there are not many people who can do that well – but lots of people who can censor letters. So unless you can do music do stick to farming – is there an art in that?
I do not know what C.E.M.A.¹ is – if I can help with a letter do let me know.
Love from

Uncle Ralph²

1. Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts, with which VW later had much to do. It eventually developed into the Arts Council.
2. Iris Lemare’s note: “… I must have written to ask for any suggestions of work one could do on music – and he seems to counsel “stick to farming”. I was farming in Cornwall.