Letter from Adeline Vaughan Williams to Cordelia Curle
Belov Boo
[...] R was very disappointed in Nicholas Nickleby I wonder if you were. I listened to the Grillers1 playing the Bloch - the best Bloch I have heard largely perhaps because of the fine playing & just as it finished R arrived from London. The Carol League2 met in the school house of Westminster School (it has a temporary roof) Michael Mull3 was there to accompany Maxwell Lyte (his devoted patron) & R gave them his usual words of warning against King Wenceslaus. He liked Headmaster & his wife so much. She is a sister-in-law of Betty Maconchy. The Carol League had nothing to do with the school but is for the blind - & Brett's blind cousin was there in his glory as one of his carols was being sung - the hall was packed.4
[...]
A long gushing telegram from Harriet5 asking R to come to Arnold's6 birthday party. No of course is the answer to that.
[...]
Yr A
1. The Griller Quartet
2. The Carol League was formed in 1915 to raise funds for blinded soldiers and sailors, chiefly by carol-singing.
3. Michael Mullinar, pianist.
4. Brett appears to have worked for the VWs' household.
5. Harriet Cohen, pianist
6. Arnold Bax, composer.
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Date estimated from reference to Bax party (his birthday was in early November).