Letter
The Hallé, Ida Carroll, Geoffrey Griffiths, St James Church Choir at Birch-in-Rusholme, BBC Philharmonic
1938

Griff writes to Ida that he's been listening to BBC on the radio and discusses the other programmes he's listening to. "It would be nice if you could play with the Symphony Orchestra and the Blackley Union" and he hopes she can have a rest at Christmas.
He updates her on plans to go to the theatre. He's had "a pleasant moment this evening tapping out the tunes chorus in the Hallé programme" and he has "the play-writing fever" again.
His office hours are demanding but he hopes to see two Messiahs nevertheless, it is Christmas after all. He relays his Christmas plans at work, hopes wage cuts don't come, arranging Christmas collections and cards at Birch choir.
Regarding church Christmas processions he doesn't like participating but doesn't mind observing. He refers to Catholicism and its penchant for symbolism.
"you must believe that your influence is helping me. I'm not altogether happy every where, you know, so I haven't quite perfected the art of living, for I'm aware of all sorts of deficiencies. But we are doing our best some of the time, and you are doing your best all of the time."

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.