THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

The White Gates,
Dorking, Surrey.

5th July, 1950.

Dear Mr. Eastwood,

I am very sorry I cannot accept your kind invitation for July 15th, as I have already promised to be elsewhere.
Sir Adrian Boult has indeed planted a tree in the soil of English music which will grow and prosper, and spread its branches over the world.
Yours sincerely

R Vaughan Williams

(R. Vaughan Williams).

R.L. Eastwood, Esq.,
British Broadcasting Corporation,
(Club Gardening Section)
Broadcasting House, W.1.

1. Boult was forced to retire from the BBC aged 60, but this was deferred until 8 April 1950, his 61st birthday (see Michael Kennedy, Adrian Boult, published 1987, p.219). On that date he was entertained to dinner at the Savoy by the orchestra, with the BBC represented only by his secretary, Gwen Beckett, and VW replied to a toast. On 15 July the gardening section of the BBC club held a party for Boult at St. Hilda’s, Maida Vale. There was a presentation book into which tributes were pasted, including one from VW.