Letter
The Hallé, Walter Carroll, Ida Carroll, Geoffrey Griffiths
Northern School Of Music (NSM)
1939

Griff writes to Ida while she's away. He's been trying to listen to opera on the radio but can't catch hold of the frequency very well for Germany and France. He wanted to listen to Oxford Cathedral choir but they have all taken ill it seems. He understands that for cathedral choirs it is tempting to go full tilt on the jolly pieces but "I must confess a liking for the more 'precious' styles used, say, by our own Cathedral Choir at their weekday and Sunday afternoon Evensongs."
Work at the travel agents has been busy and he's barely had time to practice his vocal exercises.
He hopes that she is making good ground with the thirty-nine papers from the Matthay School of Music. Possibly student exam papers? "I think you have to do too much work for the School, in odd patches especially neat the term-end, but rush times seem to appear in most businesses."
While she's away he thinks he should send up a "serial story, to be send in bulk - and then thrown away on sight" as it is undoubtedly too selfish in nature. But if she were to write a little to him, it would be cherished.
"How do you like the new Hallé chief?" he asks - likely referring to Malcolm Sargent that steered the orchestra through most of WW2.
Businesses are failing, and he thinks it may be time to jump ship with the travel agents and start one of his own with a partner but the partner isn't ready and "I know pretty well your Father would advise against my parting with any money at the moment with so many crises about for one thing." Good advice given what's about to hit.

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.