THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

From R. Vaughan Williams,
The White Gates,
Westcott Road,
Dorking.

[late 1930s?]

Dear Howes
I send this tune for what it is worth.
Also the book of America I spoke of – can I have the copy back please as it is my only copy.
The minutes of the last EFDS¹ meeting are rather outstanding.
If it had been on the agenda I would have made a push to come – I wish DNK² would not spring these things on us (not for the first time)
I feel that his point of view has definitely won its way – & now is the time for him to make good and prove to us that he is right – but before that is possible he proposes to leave us.
I am against the idea of a years absence – we shall have to put in a deputy director who will
(a) be a mere stop gap – unsatisfactory
(b) a good man with ideas of his own – which he will not be able to carry out in his year of office- if the deputy is good we shall want him to stay
If we have to appoint a successor we must at all costs avoid a sham-Douglas – somebody with all Douglas’ faults & none of his virtues – we must look out for someone with quite other qualities
Yrs
R Vaughan Williams

1. English Folk Dance and Song Society.
2. Douglas Neil Kennedy, director of the English Folk Dance and Song Society.