Business is booming in the travel agency where Geoffrey Griffiths works and his boss has asked him to stay a 2 extra hours but he refused, "the enormity of it trying to keep me away from you all those extra minutes." He references Ida Carroll's resilience and fortitude.

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.

"We are very close in spirit, aren't we?" Geoffrey Griffiths laments the days he must wait until he can see Ida Carroll again. He discusses his day, cleaning up, doing the household accounts, reading and playing cards with his auntie. Their "novel" they appear to have been working on has had its opening draft scrapped by him, and he has had a letter from the London School of Journalism about possible attendance options. He organises the rotas for the Auxiliary Fire Service, which seems to have new recruits to replace those that have left.

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.

Goeffrey Griffiths disagrees with that "bad doctor-man" who reckons he has a "bronchial cold". Griff reels against the idea, claiming that "I was singing scales yesterday and this afternoon."
He thinks he's getting along with his elderly family members because he's seeing less of them lately.

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.

Geoffrey has just come off duty for his war service and he missed Ida Carroll terribly. He laments them not being close, "what tiresome interruptions there have been of late sweetheart - we haven't been alone for more than 2 minutes together for ages or so it seems."
He's spent the time on duty working on his Bridge strategy, it seems and wishes that she could fly to him as it is too cold to bicycle.

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.

Geoffrey writes of Ida Carroll falling off her bike and applauds her skill in voiding a "complete crash to earth." He urges her that "if you must fall off occasionally, please do so on nice, quiet roads."
He enjoyed playing cards "nobly for a fair portion of this very lonely evening," and agonises over having to travel from Ashton to rehearsals so frequently. We learn that he has been accepted into the Hallé chorus, "the first experience was changing in the cellars at Piccadilly and picking up an incredible amount of dust in doing so."

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.

Geoffrey Griffiths has missed the bus home after visiting Ida Carroll but "I am glad the No.19 went without its distinguished patron; goodnight kisses are important, the mere catching of the bus is not."
He plans to go to the cinema on Palatine Rd to see one of those "rather crazy American comedies" and possibly invites her for a meeting?

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.

More pre-wedding anxiety from Geoffrey Griffiths to Ida Carroll and seemingly from Ida as well - she has a lot of work suddenly to do and he suggests that the wedding be postponed until they don't have to worry so much. "Are first impulses always the right ones?"
"All I desire if your happiness" so he wants her "to be sure on every point."
He makes a gorgeous reference to poets Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett, who had a legendary romance in letters and life (complete with disapproving father on her part).

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.

Official Magazine of the Northern School of Music, 1956

"Now that the awful grief of Mother's death has gone, what about you and me in the scheme of things?" Geoffrey Griffiths admits to anxieties about moving forward with the practicalities of moving out and getting married to Ida Carroll, worried for his father and auntie at home without any company or help.
"If some time you want to chuck the School [Northern School of Music] altogether and try to engage in free-lance, we could I think (so long as I am here) live quite comfortably communally at No.37." I bet she wasn't best pleased at being presented with that suggestion.

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.

Geoffrey Griffiths writes to Ida Carroll in a "talk" letter, not so much a "love" letter. "I am sure of course that we differ in temperament to some degree and in heredity." His mother has recently died and it looks like he wishes to postpone their early wedding. "I do regret "Nov 1st" [their planned wedding date] but do love you nonetheless, sweetheart!"

He discusses his will, in case he should die in war service, and how it would work between her and his family.

He discusses a "Dr. J." and his advice, with some scepticism it seems.

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.

The merger years! Why did it take so long to create the Royal Northern College of Music?

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 fascinating bundle of letters all about the planned marriage between Geoffrey Griffiths and Ida Carroll. We start with a letter from Ida Carroll to her parents, written while she was in Uttoxeter reassuring them that she hasn't eloped but that she her and Griff decided to become engaged the night before. It looks like, from this letter, that there was an attempt 10 years ago to get married but that this didn't happen. They wish to get married on November first (this letter is dated Oct 5th) so that they could do it before Geoffrey possibly gets called up for WW2 service. They've chosen a flat to live in and she breaks down when she will see them, where she will eat and how the finances between her and Griff will run. She admits that Griff is "petrified" of their reaction and that she is taking an easy way out with writing a letter instead of going to see them with the news.
In the next note, Ida asks someone (her parents again perhaps) to welcome Griff when he comes to see them tonight. She also asks for margarine coupons and jam. "I shan't have time to get myself married so you must help me... Do let's be happy about it all - I'm tickled to death. And I want a merry wedding - not a funeral."

In the next set of notes we hear from W. Frank S. Holmes, of the Joint Matriculation Board, a friend of the Northern School of Music. He congratulates her that "Griff is an excellent lad and unless I am mistaken, has many of the qualities that go to the making of an excellent husband." The subtle and secret nature of their relationship is hinted again as he admits to being only one of the few who would even know about their relationship.
In a short note by Ida, possibly back to Holmes, she says that the wedding will be private with only a few people. She wants to avoid the whole music school turning up so will not be broadcasting the news.

Sadly, as far as we know, they never did get married. Either the war got in the way or, also likely, Ida's parents refused to allow it.

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.

The story behind the love letters - Geoffrey Griffiths and Ida Carroll.

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 short introduction to the Northern School of Music's support for the Barnardo's Charity.

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 10 letter page is humbled by being introduced as "inadequate". All plans to do with planning for Geoffrey's involvement in the war. HIs father doesn't want to stay in the house if Geoffrey gets called up - since Geoffrey's mother died, he doesn't want to be alone.
Geoffrey similarly thinks it's too soon after his mother's death to think of marriage, "I would not really be happy until a few weeks have rolled by, despite the risk of call-up, which has reduced for the moment, after all."
He talks of their plans to move in together, of getting their own place and of being together. This takes many more years to become a reality due to the refusal of Ida Carroll's father to bless their union.
However, despite not being married, he has changed his will to give all of his estate to her, just in case the war takes him.

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.

"There is a faintly sinister note to the opera adverts - programme subject to attention. If they change Tuesday or Thursday I shall roar the place down." But! Due to a hefty tip from a priest that Geoffrey Griffiths helped to get on a plane to Dublin for a wedding, the second opera is on him. "So Catholic money will pay for Il Nozze di Figaro."

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.

There are very precise measurements of time and distance given by Ida Carroll's favourite "transport nerd" here and it's kind of adorable.
Geoffrey Griffiths confesses that when changing his train tickets, "the station master was inadvertently allowed to see your photograph - the lucky man" and wonders if he keeps a picture of "Mrs Station Master and his "repulsively attractive little daughter" he sees sometimes.
His parents should be able to receive a portion of his war wages.
He rhapsodises about the walks they spend together and how much he thinks of 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.

We're missing a couple of pages of this letter but it's interesting to note that Geoffrey Griffiths, working in a travel agents, is concerned about the capacity to keep business open. He was going to set up another business with a friend of his but wonders whether there will be any business to be had by the time the war is done.

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.

Hoping that he left at a decent time, to avoid the judgemental ears of Ida's father, Geoffrey Griffiths explains how hard it is to leave 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.

Geoffrey Griffiths has nearly a week until he can see Ida Carroll again and he is already missing 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.

It's been a clumsy few days for Geoffrey Griffiths. He nearly missed his bus, dropped money, walked into a gate and took 3 wrong turns on the way home.
Whilst Ida Carroll has admitted to enjoying being spoiled, "if you are being spoiled, it is my tribute to charm and beauty."
He's been practicing with Boris - the piano? - and has the aches to prove it.

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.

Geoffrey's got himself in a bit of a pickle and recounts the "bleakest Monday of my life." He's sold an air ticket to someone without a passport and has no idea how to fix it in time. "I am sunk, there is going to be the most beastly row." He's so anxious about this and the late shifts he has coming up that he confesses, "oh the cigarettes I've smoked today."

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.

Geoffrey Griffiths relays how he was trapped into conversation by a fellow Hallé concert goer on the 41 bus who talked loudly, "a distinct tenor" about the concert he'd seen. He went to a gathering of friends and they sat by the fire and listened to "more news bulletins than I thought possible" instead of playing cards.
Amusingly, he was asked by a Mrs. Lester if he ever sees her (Ida Carroll) and if so would he extend her an invitation to tea with her, with Griff welcome if he likes. Ha! He casually responded while staring nonchalantly out the vestry window that he occasionally spots Ida in at the Hallé. Their relationship was kept very close and out of sight for many, many years. Perhaps a mix of choosing privacy and to avoid the entangling grip of Ida's father's controlling habits.

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.

Geoffrey Griffith is carrying around no less than 8 of Ida Carroll's letters, as a comfort to him (although they present sharp edges in his jacket!). He doubts he'll be able to see her before he is sent away in the new year - possibly for war service/training - "it would be nice if you turned up at a camp, near or far, with that early morning cup of tea but I doubt if it's allowed." (I mean, probably, Griff).

Now, very interestingly he says he is working on Tuesday 24th, Christmas eve, at the travel agents. This is likely to be the Tuesday 24th which was one of the end of the Manchester Blitz - a sort of carpet bombing of the city. Hopefully the travel agents - in Ashton? - is unharmed. The Northern School of Music ended up with all its windows blown out. Anyway, he insists that she should visit him in Ashton since "he has nearly bought a tea pot."
He finishes, alluding to the controlling character of her famous father Walter Carroll, that "I hope you are reading this tonight and not when the postman (or your Father) permits it."

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.