THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

Tuesday [probably 28 August 1934]

Dear Alice

Alas – its now definite I can’t come – I’m getting on splendidly but I mayn’t move till it is quite healed.¹
Do you know I believe I’ve not missed a festival for 10 years.
– I was looking forward to this so.  Give my love to John² & wish him good luck through all his trials and my love to the Prettiest Girl in Gloucester
xxxxxxxxxxxx
I shall claim all those  when next we meet³
Love from

RVW

1. VW had a poisoned abscess on his ankle which had developed from a blister gained, according to UVW, on a long walk in Sussex following Gustav Holst’s funeral. It kept him in bed for eight weeks, missing the Three Choirs Festival – see R.V.W.: a biography, p.201.
2. Herbert John Sumsion.
3. i.e. the kisses represented by the ‘x’s.