Griff writes to Ida hoping he can escort her from the hospital (is she visiting Hilda Collens who took ill at the start of WW2?). He did go to find her but couldn't figure out all the entrances.
He likes their quiet walks but "will set aside one day in the month if you like and go all intellectual." He reckons that "Ford Land and railway bridges aren't places for pursuits of the mind so far as serious conversations are concerned."
He needs to practice his singing before he demonstrates a song for Ida and admits that "I feel sadly for the chopping of the Hallé and the Birch practices," and that "members of other churches tell me they go on as serenely as conditions allow." He talks about cinema offers and grammar, admitting he is relearning basic French.

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.

Griff writes to Ida hoping that she will let him know if he can be of use when she's walking home alone in the dark.
He tried to fob the bus fare a bit and "ride mast Mauldeth Road but the guard gave me a hard stare and threw me off".
He hopes the travel agency will remain open after promising talks with a London railway company but knows that offices all over the city and closing.
He dreamt he met Ida in a strange town in the early morning like that would totally natural.

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.

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.

Griff has been staying at the New Old Inn again in Bourton-upon-Water. He didn't get his morning call for his early train but managed to make it anyway thanks to when the "R.A.F. man arrived suddenly, on the wrong side of his breakfast, and gave me a lift to the station." He laments the lack of good tea and coffee at the hotel, "it was half-watery in taste; peculiar fluids, both of them." It was still his best holiday to date.

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.

Griff is getting used to his new shoes while writing by the fire. He's listened to Myra Hess on the radio. Hess was a student of Tobias Matthay, same as Hilda Collens who founded the Matthay School of Music and for which Ida Carroll is secretary at this time.
There is trouble in travel agency paradise with some franchises closing.
He dreamt of fields and of going to the theatre with Ida but in his dream "I was without my gas-mask and said 'never mind I'll take yours instead'. How you got inside I don't know but you did!!"
He's been looking for other work and it sounds like he would have been in the shipping business, "it was no consolation to learn that had there been no war I was destined for Swan and Leach February next. What is the use of telling me now?" The travel agency has already left him worse off "thanks to the steadily declining trade." But the "trouble is that I don't want to go to a job with less pay, and Stanton's might keep me on in some way." Ah the classic job loyalty without job insecurity trap.
He remembers seeing pleas in the local newspapers of men desperate for jobs, offering their services at incredibly low prices just for some employment.

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.

Griff relates to Ida of his evening of cards with his parents. The wind is howling and he recalls "two historic occasions when we were blown to bits" by South Manchester winds.
He doesn't fancy learning another language as English has served him well wherever he's been.
He practised some vocal exercises in the office at work and knows he gets inquisitive looks when the door s open in warmer weather.
It was dark on the walk along Princess Parkway, "the weather and stars were kind; at six o'clock I'd given up all hope of seeing more than two yards at any given time!"
He's been avoiding attending a work party in Oldham but recognises that he probably should go. "Dodged the last theatre party they had (a low musical show) and they may start thinking I am snooty and uppish," but really he would much rather relax in South Manchester. Apparently the party is held in Oldham because of "the blackout of course." Possibly because it's further away from the city centre?

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.

Griff writes to Ida, "Blast Hitler. A sad break in tradition this going to church in the afternoon instead of doing a spot of writing, and however lively I may be late at night I feel I mightn't to burn early morning electricity - the Rationing! Blast Hitler."
Sounds like the war is getting in the way of of his routine again.
He assures Ida that it's ok to feel a bit blue at the moment. "In times more equable than that of today nearly all of us have our ups and downs," so it's even more understandable that she might feel low at the moment.
He used to want a change from his travel agency work but now "I don't know whether to regret the passing of the comparative security of those recent working days or to welcome the present time as an adventure."
He is however "truly sorry for the real, and threatened, breaking-up of so many businesses and institutions."
He's excited still for the Hallé and hopes to go with her.

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.

Griff tells Ida that he found her gloves on the walk home from their date. He's sure she has others she can use in the meantime.
If he's late next time they meet for a concert, it's because "a few weeks ago I conveniently smashed my watch. Unscrewed too many screws and everything flew up at me. It was glorious."
He hopes other leading parishes will take up the example set by Walter Carroll (her father) at Birch Church to have more musical services. He knows this is a good idea based on that classic foundation of opinion forming: "because I've read a bit about it by quite good men."
There's a big issue she's skirted over the past few times they've met. "There's the Army business (I'm 33)." He admits to a "sinking feeling" at taking up any extra responsibilities but knows this must eventually fade. "I'm not a fighting man at all, but neither am I one to protest against my ultimate lot. If I were better placed at home [...] I should probably be taken as a volunteer, as soon as they do take volunteers again, and so pretty well choose a safe job. But the instinct remains to work as long as possible [at the travel agents], and conscripts aren't allowed to do any choosing."
He thanks her again for offering to help his parents if he's called away, especially sorting out their finances.
"What a horrid letter! I didn't mean it to be like this at all, but feel I had to write about these things sometimes."

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.

Griff describes to Ida his journey home from an outing (a date with Ida or a concert?). He was "quite unconscious but with eyes open." I think we can all relate to that!
He reckons that "there are so many hills in Stockport. Some of them ought to be classed as mountains."
He remarks that Eda Kersey performed well on the violin but that he wasn't impressed by the Arthur Bliss piece at the Hallé.
Just to be extra romantic, he queries her grammar.

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.

Griff tells Ida he went to the cinema alone when he left work early and saw the Three Stooges new film but wasn't impressed. He reckons Charlie Chaplin is the best comedian.
The Lido cinema is closed for "re-everything, including anti-draught devices and a new talkie machine."
He quotes passages about a couple in Angela Thirkell's "Ankle Deep."
He discusses the cello scale and remembers Harold Dawber telling him that BBC singers are always flat if you test them on a piano scale.
He walked with a "soldier boy" to the barracks from the station and they chatted. He was coming back from meeting his girlfriend and didn't like the walk to the barracks alone.
Luckily Griff's cold is gone.

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.

Griff writes to Ida asking her to walk with him on Saturday and laments the time apart until then.
He won't book them in to see the Fred Astaire film as she has seen it but will look at other listings.
He hopes he's all paid up for his concerts as he's pretty skint.

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.

It's Christmas 1939! "First written words of Christmas day 1939 are addressed to you," writes Griff to Ida.
He promises to not elongate his exit from her house again as she must have been freezing as he delayed his goodbyes in the garden.
Boris the cello is safely in the corner and he's eaten too many meals, Christmas and Eccles cakes.
He thanks her for her present (but we're not told what it is).
He's currently "feeling very tired. Or overfed. Or both."
He's listened to the King's speech and "would like your opinion about the words 'civilisation' and 'organisation'," admitting his lingo might not be as sophisticated as the BBC.
He reckons Malcolm Sargent is "chock-full of useful interpretations of the words, and expressions generally" in the Hallé Choir work. He warns the choir not to count too obviously as this is his job. Griff also wishes to "so something with Toscanini in charge."
He continues to Boxing Day where he says that overnight his cello Boris broke its A string and probably woke his mother up. Whoops.
He might go to the Lido to see the new Gracie Fields film, and "think I will go for a stroll and hunt for some Terry's peppermint creams." Solid plan, Griff.

Ref: CARROLL/IGC/3 GG
With thanks to the Ida Carroll Trust

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

Griff sings the praises of a chap called Span who is "head and shoulders (not merely in size) above his companions."
He assures Ida that "of course I am going to confide in you absolutely whether the business thingummy comes to anything or not." This could be his plans to start his own travel agency.
"Life is a rather queer go, when one tries to weigh it up," he writes and dismisses the thoughts of psychologists and ancient cynics, in issues of marital upset. But he pleads with her not to "fall in love with a married man, not even a policeman, single or married." He encourages her to rest and he "shall stay at home, twiddling the wireless." He hopes to see her soon.

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.

Griff asks Ida "have you been smiling at any strange men or policemen today? If so please send me details in brief about the times, places and circumstances, so that I may suffer the agonies of jealousy."
He's had a few shivers today, "pleasant and understandable when you are there to be gazed upon; but uncomfortable when I know jolly well the weather is to blame."
He wants to take her out at the weekend, discusses music tastes and cinema options.
He asks her that if she is to bite him, that "severe bites ought to be confined to the ear or the left hand or arm, as the right hand is needed for writing letters."
Well, that took quite a turn there.

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.

It's summer and Griff writes to Ida saying that he has "been seized by the annual Exercise Fever". He proposes she lead a ramble in south Manchester.
He's been listening to Aida on the radio and updates her on the Rummy League score board.

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.

Griff writes to Ida of visiting two sisters who had a "fire large enough to roast an ox in a room rather less than two thirds the area of the Bowers' kitchen". He then called upon Mr Bannister, who used to be the concert attendant at the Hallé, and who also had an ox-ready fire. Combined with the warm night, Griff is rather sleepy.

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.

Ida is on holiday in Stratford and Gruff admonishes her for writing letters so late into the night which might "come under the heading of Slightly Naughty Conduct, but I suppose you can do as you please, nearly."
He regrets being stuck at work while she was leaving so he couldn't see her off.
He accuses her of "having one of those mild attacks of quite unnecessary inf[eriority] com[plexes]. Nearly everyone who does a job conscientiously (such as you) surely justifies his or her existence." In terms of self improvement, "I doubt very, very much that you need any." He encourages her not to worry about her playing piano, particularly for the Matthay School of Music as it isn't her job.
He would like to holiday in London as he gets free train tickets for work. He's usually on the 2230 train, arriving in Marylebone at 0415. He describes his usual London rambles and admits to navigating the city by having "kept to the smaller streets, relying on a general sense of direction, and the results have occasionally been quite comical."
He admits that walking around at half four in the morning looking worse for wear and carrying a backpack can put people on edge a little, he describes going to a bus and station and "the first table emptied as I arrived, so there is no real practical value, but it can be good fun."
He recalls the uncanny instance when on a travel agents trip abroad he kept bumping into a couple who, it turns out, work in Rochdale.
He's playing cards with his family and describes "an attack of musical indigestion" after listing to so much music on the radio, only to be interrupted by the announcement that Italy had invaded Albania. "Quite grim." Quite quite.

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.

Griff writes to Ida (Secretary of the Matthay School of Music), "When you become chief of the school, or start your own, will you make me secretary?" He would leave Huddersfield and that dreadful commute, get to see her daily instead of weekly, and would have music all day. He believes it will be a "utopia".
He details the work clothes he would wear and that "correct behaviour is almost assured."
He reasons that "I am clever with accounts and could learn how to be tactful; the library would be run with enthusiasm and I should see that I have the best books immediately after you; the others could wait. People who owe money would be bullied."
He says of the Royal Manchester College of Music principal that "if I encountered Mr R.J. Forbes I should sneer."
He gives his opinions on some concerts including the Matthay School of Music performance with Bessie Hales, Edith Holt and Albert Knowles.

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.

Griff writes to Ida that (for unknown reasons) he'll have to be stuck working for Stanton's travel agency if he wishes to remain a Manchester City fan. *shrugs*
He knows she is working hard at the Matthay School of Music and it sounds like there is a lot of development work going on (possibly in response to the 1940 Blitz or the change to a public company?)
"At Stantons it has been one of my chief winter sports to invent new methods, occasionally of value, mostly utterly confusing to my poor colleagues, but always amusing - to me." Well, that would drive me bonkers.
He recalls seeing Charles Laughton in a play where the organ on stage started to play well before he sat down to it.
He spends some time comparing congregation and choir sizes at Birch church and elsewhere, listing the choirs he would like to see.

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.

It looks like Ida accompanied the church rector to a Birch Church "do" and while Griff was jealous "I can recognise diplomacy". Bringing another woman to any "do" would be impossible for him, he reassures her. Their secret romance continues.
He relays compliments he heard about her at the dance.
He is sending her tickets to Gerontius (presumably by the Hallé). He shall send her with "a tall, handsome, amusing, married man? Quite happily married too. That might be alright if you didn't look at him too often; you might undermine him if you looked at him." He promises to misbehave terribly if she sends a female friend to accompany him and he doesn't want to be barred from all future concerts.
He hopes his letter will reach her on Thursday "so that you may avoid Parental Threats and Pleadings". Possibly Ida's parents aren't too happy about their relationship?
He'll sulk that he is going to cinema alone on Friday.
He admits that he cannot dance and promises that "I shouldn't give you away if you confessed you had murdered someone, but please don't make a habit of murder."
He discusses Hallé concerts and radio broadcasts.

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.

Whoo, this is a wordy one. Here we go.
Griff writes to Ida in a small panic. It seems there was something wrong with some travel tickets she sent money for? Or he didn't realise she sent the money? Not sure. Either way it seems all sorted. Phew.
He has thoroughly enjoyed the first-rate concerts by the Hallé and is looking forward to singing the Messiah with them soon.
He writes about the cinema offerings in Manchester and assures her she is better looking than Audrey Hepburn.
Walter Carroll (Ida's father and choirmaster at Birch Church where Griff sings) phoned about some train tickets "and mentioned his decision to retire unless things become more unanimous." If he retires, Griff wonders if members of Birch choir will leave also. He might try other choirs himself.
He updates her on the card game scores.
There were so many concerts planned lately that "we shall dream about music."
He reminisces about Tom Case (I think?) insisting he learn some song repertoire "so that he could criticise my rendering, voice, pitch, tone and everything else."
He tries to arrange a date with Ida, possibly to the cinema.

Griff congratulates Ida on her "chic" look when performing in her black gown. It may have been a Matthay School of Music concert, or with the Manchester Women's Orchestra, it's not explained.
"Air raid signals seemed to be busy during one of the amusing speech-rhythm things". He says that Ida's father Walter "certainly is upset at the present situation - rather unnecessarily I think - for the present anyway, but I may be mistaken." Yeaaaahhhhh....
He finds himself reassuring "don't worry, it may never happen."
He shares that "National Service is apparently the thing of the moment" and that he is sure she will find a way to be helpful even though his letter of last November to enlist has had no results.
"Everyone nearly must dread dying by means of any act of war, but I try to console myself that it would be just as bad for other people in similar circumstances as it would be for me." That is not that comforting, Griff.
He gently berates her for working to hard but admits he is also a thief of her rest as he likes to see her so much. He hopes she will write to him from Stratford.
He is pleased with all her success on the double bass and wonders that you never know, "the day may come when there are women players in the Hallé, then some of those old stagers will have to look out." She may have to think about leaving the Manchester Women's Orchestra if she joins the Hallé.

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.

Griff writes to Ida very excited about going to the cinema with her for some films he's looked forward to. He suggests "the new place in Ardwick, the Apollo".
He's unsure which to take her to and others "look perfectly horrible and you deserve the best that is going."
He's worried about his voice as "three colds in one winter is very unique" but there seems to be a cold bug going around from football players to travel agents. Little Eric in the agency office has a sniffle and Griff reckons "he's helped towards the mild depression over Piccadilly."

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.

A very formal start to a letter from Griff to Ida congratulating her on her victory with the Birch Rummy League.
"oF c-8rse 6heRE (s s) Meth(nG oN the bacK OF %h9s% YOu d-Nt th9nK i am g-Ing t- wast4 tjIs dO Ypu??"
And so begins his usual letter. He discusses his typewriter experiments resulting in multiple copies of this letter as "the original shows all the defects of the typewriter - the machine defects for of course I - the typist - have none (?)"
He writes about the book he's reading and ventures into cinema options and reports his opinions on radio broadcasts of concerts.
He looks forward "to seeing you after a long lapse of about 45 hours, roughly 2,700 minutes, or 162,000 seconds."

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.