THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

[13th November 1955]

S.O.S.
Who is conducting at Bradford on 24th?¹
Who is conducting at the other place on 24th?²
We s^hd send telegrams & have forgotten wh. is Melville Cook’s job³  – & who the other chap is?
Recipe for walnut cake to follow
Love from us both

U.

Thank you for the cutting – & letter & all news. specially J.S. beard!⁴

1. David Willcocks and the Bradford Festival Choral Society were giving a performance of Hodie.
2. Melville Cook conducted the Halifax Choral society in A Sea Symphony. The Yorkshire Times reported the two concerts, 20 miles apart, as a one of the most saddening musical clashes of recent years.
3. Melville Cook, organist and choral conductor, was organist at Leeds Parish Church. He became organist at Hereford Cathedral in succession to Meredith Davies in December 1956.
4. John South (see VWL3227) had grown a beard.