Letter
The Hallé, Ida Carroll, Geoffrey Griffiths, St James Church Choir at Birch-in-Rusholme
Northern School Of Music (NSM)
1942

Griff writes to Ida that there is tightening up at the travel agents where he works, "we aren't sacked yet, though the monthly commission on receipts has been stopped."
He hopes he can give accurate train time tables to her students at the Matthay School of Music soon. Despite the war "I like to hope that all artistic endeavour will continue if possible."
He talks about choir member habits and remarks on some of them leaving, "diplomacy doesn't reign very strongly at Birch. It is a poor look-out for nations if regions in Christian communities cannot rub along together."
He talks about Robert Donat and seeing 39 Steps.
He hopes he sister Elsa gets a good holiday in the Cotswolds but that it is unlikely with the fighter planes based there. He reckons that "the seaside would be better" and Ida herself is going to Blackpool.
He wonders when the Hallé will start again and if the Rummy League will return, "It will go down in Rummy (very rummy) history that you were the undefeated champion before the great-great war!"

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.