THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

13 Cheyne Walk

Tuesday [8 Feb 1927]

Dear Miss Scott
We are so grateful to you for your letter – putting your interview with Dr C so clearly & fully.
It is disappointing that he has not any new suggestion – Do you think that it would be a good plan to visit Virginia Water again in order to see what the new Superintendent is like? It is such an advantage to have I.G. near London if possible.¹
Meanwhile we have been talking to a sister in law and she thinks that her brother who is a Xtian science Practitioner might be of use to Ivor. She consulted with a lady who has a wide experience and to my sister in law’s surprise she mentioned her brother & one other as being the best practitioners she could think of for such a case.
This Mr Lidderdale is very much interested in art & cares for music & his sister suggests that if you approve that he should visit Ivor on one of the usual visiting days as a friend and that if he found they were likely to get on & felt that he could help him he would see Dr Robinson and ask for permission to treat Ivor.
Tell me what you think – This has only gone as fas as between my husband & me & his sister in law.
It is deplorable that the hospital s^d not take the trouble to see that Ivor gets fresh air & proper nourishment.
My opinion of the cooking for the Infirmary is favourable for one day we were there we met the trolleys coming away & I had a good look – boiled chickens masked with well made white sauce & great milk puddings & sieved gooseberries & other things all looking very appetising. But it was the end of a meal and far too much was being taken back!
I still feel that a change is the right thing – if we can do it without too much risk –
I expect we s^d never be able to take Ivor back to Dartford once gone but if he is getting worse there I don’t see there is anything to mind in that – There must be a wider choice as time goes on
Yrs very sincerely
Adeline Vaughan Williams

1. The VWs were concerned for the welfare of the composer Ivor Gurney, who was in a psychiatric hospital in Dartford for many years.