THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Dorking, Surrey.

18th December, 1951.

Dear Mr. Byard,

I had hoped to meet you and talk with you at Bristol the other day,¹ but as I daresay you know, my train was an hour late, and that upset all the plans.

I am so glad your people are doing “The Shepherds” and enjoying it.

The best stage performance of “Riders” I have seen was done by the R.C.M.² children last summer.  It really, I think, requires a small theatre and a small stage, but so does “The Shepherds” for that matter, though as a matter of fact the Shepherds came off quite well at Covent Garden.
Yours sincerely,
R. Vaughan Williams
(R. Vaughan Williams).

H. Byard, Esq.,
4, Randall Road,
Clifton, Bristol.

1.  On Friday 14 December 1951, in the Great Hall of Bristol University, Winston Churchill conferred nine honorary degrees. VW was given the first Doctorate in Music ever to be conferred by the university. He was 38 minutes late, due to fog on the line, so was presented last instead of first. Afterwards they all had lunch in the Reception Room.

2. Royal College of Music, 30 November 1937.