THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Dorking.

July 28 [1945]

Dear Herbert

I expect you have the case of Madeleine Dring in hand – so you may like to know what Susan Richmond wrote to me (in answer to mine [)] – she says “I never seriously considered her as a potential actress”  “she might be lucky & get an opening of some sort in a repertory theatre – but she is limited to a definite type by her physique”  “unless she can in some way use her music too I can’t see much future for her there” “There might be a chance for her on the variety or light music side of the BBC”  “I think M has a facility in knocking out stuff in various styles of a sort that fits in odd corners, & incidental music.”¹
Yrs

RVW

1.  Madeleine Dring, 1923-1977, composer of songs and incidental music for the theatre. She became a pupil of both Howells, VW and Gordon Jacob at the RCM. She was a friend of VW’s friend Bruce Richmond, editor of the Times Literary Supplement, but not, it appears, of his wife Susan. UVW provided a note on the original suggesting that the letter was something to do with a wartime Committee, but it seems more likely that it was to do with Howells taking her on as a pupil..