Letter
Ida Carroll, Geoffrey Griffiths
1941

A fascinating bundle of letters all about the planned marriage between Geoffrey Griffiths and Ida Carroll. We start with a letter from Ida Carroll to her parents, written while she was in Uttoxeter reassuring them that she hasn't eloped but that she her and Griff decided to become engaged the night before. It looks like, from this letter, that there was an attempt 10 years ago to get married but that this didn't happen. They wish to get married on November first (this letter is dated Oct 5th) so that they could do it before Geoffrey possibly gets called up for WW2 service. They've chosen a flat to live in and she breaks down when she will see them, where she will eat and how the finances between her and Griff will run. She admits that Griff is "petrified" of their reaction and that she is taking an easy way out with writing a letter instead of going to see them with the news.
In the next note, Ida asks someone (her parents again perhaps) to welcome Griff when he comes to see them tonight. She also asks for margarine coupons and jam. "I shan't have time to get myself married so you must help me... Do let's be happy about it all - I'm tickled to death. And I want a merry wedding - not a funeral."

In the next set of notes we hear from W. Frank S. Holmes, of the Joint Matriculation Board, a friend of the Northern School of Music. He congratulates her that "Griff is an excellent lad and unless I am mistaken, has many of the qualities that go to the making of an excellent husband." The subtle and secret nature of their relationship is hinted again as he admits to being only one of the few who would even know about their relationship.
In a short note by Ida, possibly back to Holmes, she says that the wedding will be private with only a few people. She wants to avoid the whole music school turning up so will not be broadcasting the news.

Sadly, as far as we know, they never did get married. Either the war got in the way or, also likely, Ida's parents refused to allow it.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust
Date is unknown.

Part of the #NSM2020 project "A 20/20 Legacy: the centenary of the Northern School of Music" supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.