THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The Red House,
Aldeburgh,
Suffolk.

August 28th 1958

My dear Mrs Vaughan Williams,

I should like to send my deepest sympathy to you on the death of your husband, a very great man. He has been a such a tremendous figure to me, all my musical life, that it is hard to realise he is no longer with us. We all miss him sadly – above all, his wonderful, uncompromising courage in fighting for all those things he believed in – things which I personally believe to be some of the most important things in life.
You have the warmest thoughts of the countless people who loved him with you at this terrible moment.
Yours sincerely

Benjamin Britten