THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates
Dorking

March 3rd [1942]

Dear Sir

Dorking and Leith Hill District Preservation Society

As chairman of the above society I venture to write and ask your sympathy in a scheme for preserving the “Terrace” from the hands of the builder.
As you doubtless know the “Terrace yet be made public” is the splendid avenue above Deepdene with a wonderful view over the Weald.
It is a favourite walk for the inhabitants of Dorking & we should earn their gratitude if we [text missing] preserve [it] for [text missing]
The price asked is £2,000. Of this we have already just over £1000 promised; the rest must be found before our option lapse on April 1.

I know that all available funds ought to go to winning the war – But is not a part of winning the war to make England a place worth fighting for?
Yrs faithfully
R Vaughan Williams

P.S. May I ask you to treat this letter as confidential. Delicate negotiations are going on and must not yet be made public.