Letter
Ida Carroll, Geoffrey Griffiths
1938

Griff is on a break to the Isle of Wight. He is shocked to learn about a Mrs Gaudon's mental health struggles, reckoning that the huge upheaval that marriage can bring to a life could be the cause. "Life on the surface seems odd at times."
He discusses the merits of pens. His "late holidays have made me fairly used to nearly-empty lodgings" but that her "letter was a gleaming jewel in a wilderness of tinsel, a sparkling cup in an oasis of loneliness."
He details the island tour he has been on, including going past the Pankhurst Prison where "a convict waved cheerily enough at us."
He discusses the different church services, saying that if she was ever to go to All Saints "if you go, I warn you, you may be astonished at the service."
He's looking forward to a concert and hopes for an end of the row seat "for those dramatic late arrivals from church, where the eyes of thousands will be turned in disgust upon me."
He remarks on international politics. "There are obvious faults on both the German and Czech sides and either England nor Germany really want war. The Polish and Hungarian interventions are a nuisance and the U.S.S.R. is militant but I hope it will all blow over." Oh, Griff.

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.