THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

From R. Vaughan Williams,
10, Hanover Terrace,
Regents Park,
London, N.W.1.

August 20th [1957]

My dear Michael,

Lovely to hear from you – & I’m so glad you like John Hersey.¹  I didn’t know you’d been to Hiroshima etc.  How strangely awful it must have been.
We’ve had a hell of a week, as they suddenly felt R. ought to have an operation² – indeed quite inevitable, so into hospital he went, & had it on Saturday.  Everyone most helpful and kind, & though it was quite a big do he rang me at 8 am the next morning to see if I was all right! He’s been astonishing everyone with his vitality, & has been working yesterday & today, & today was up for a bit.  He’ll be in hospital for another 10 days I expect, & no Worcester for us, either, but we are going to Spain on the 10th – 23rd. He’s looking very well, cosy & serene, & has started something by kissing all the nurses – who adore it.  Last week was dreadful, but all is happy now. We’ve managed to keep it dark from the press so far, but now we’ve had to tell Worcester we cant come – so Im telling our friends as well dont worry at all.
All love

Ursula

At the time only Jean (& George, who was implicated) & Genia & Yania & Gil knew, & my mother – so it made it all much easier.³

P.S.  Party after the concert on Oct 9^th 4
P.S. We can’t come up till 27^th as theres Brass Band Festival on 26^th.  Hell!⁵

U

1. UVW had recommended John Hersey’s book The Wall. See VWL3538.
2.  For a cancerous prostate.
3. Jean Hadley, George Hadley (as a physician the matter would have been discussed with him), Genia and Yanya Hornstein, Gilmour Jenkins and Lady Beryl Lock.
4. The Royal Philharmonic Concert celebrating VW’s 85th birthday at the Royal Festival Hall.
5. A birthday concert at Manchester including the London Symphony. See R.V.W.: a biography, p.385.