THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

Friday [October 1948]

Belov Boo
[…] R was very disappointed in Nicholas Nickleby I wonder if you were.¹ I listened to the Grillers² playing the Bloch – the best Bloch I have heard largely perhaps because of the fine playing & just as it finished R arrived from London. The Carol League³ met in the school house of Westminster School (it has a temporary roof) Michael Mull⁴ was there to accompany Maxwell Lyte (his devoted patron) & R gave them his usual words of warning against King Wenceslaus. He liked Headmaster & his wife so much. She is a sister-in-law of Betty Maconchy. The Carol League had nothing to do with the school but is for the blind – & Brett’s blind cousin was there in his glory as one of his carols was being sung – the hall was packed.⁵
[…]
A long gushing telegram from Harriet⁵ asking R to come to Arnold’s⁶ birthday party. No of course is the answer to that.
[…]
Yr A

1. A film of Dickens’ Nicholas Nickleby had been released in 1947; perhaps this is the subject of AVW’s remark.
2. The Griller Quartet broadcast Bloch in September 1947 and November 1948.
3. The Carol League was formed in 1915 to raise funds for blinded soldiers and sailors, chiefly by carol-singing.
4. Michael Mullinar, pianist.
5. Brett appears to have worked for the VWs’ household.
6. Harriet Cohen, pianist
6. Arnold Bax, composer.