Letter from Adeline Vaughan Williams to Martin Shaw
The White Gates
Dear Martin
I like to send a scrap to say how welcome your letter was. Ralph arrived home that day in good time and I thought of your having a romantic journey and sharing your piece of cake with the Russian Natalie. Ralph ought to have known her - ex Bach Choir and here for tea when we did the Bach Passion last March . She belongs to the Old Russia - was a Beckendorff (ambassador I think?) and has an English husband. She looks rather an extinct volcano? but I don't know much about volcanoes.
Our Xmas was our usual quiet one. What could be better. Today R is having what he call a grand tidy and after that some digging.
Encourage the 'pricks', perhaps sawing helps as I think digging helps R. My ankles are improving, my weight seems to be too great a strain for them! but I am all right.
My love to Mrs Martin & you
AMVM
1 Nathalie [née Beckendorff] Ridley, wife of Jasper Nicholas Ridley (1887-1951).
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Year date based on chronological presentation in British Library.