Whilst working in the travel agency, Geoffrey Griffiths (future bursar of the Northern School of Music) writes to Ida Carroll (future principal of the Northern School of Music), arranging a meeting in Ashton-under-Lyne. Geoffrey's family seems to live there, his father appreciated her last visit - it looks like they played cards - and his "dear Mama will have something nice to say about you at breakfast tomorrow, I know."
He gets excited about the offers on the railways for trips around Manchester and signs off with "every bit of me is yours."

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, 1955

Here Geoffrey Griffiths describes to his "angel precious darling" Ida Carroll of the Northern School of Music what progress he has made (since writing his previous letter that same day!) in exploring possible writing courses. It seems that he fancies being a writer, a novelist even, although he admits starting with short stories seems sensible. He has looked at the London School of Journalism and the offers from the Regent Institute but has not reached a conclusion yet. He proposes an idea to her: "What do you say to our "splitting" a course in journalism, in your name but using No.37 as an "accommodation" address - to preserve secrecy?" To hide their relationship or the fact that they're going halvsies in a course? Who knows!

37 could have been Griff's address - it wasn't that of the NSM or of Ida Carroll, so he could be asking for the papers to be sent here.

He describes himself as "the devout slave to fiction and should for the time being be content to read very closely the books I now have."

From one book lover to another, I can almost guarantee that didn't happen.

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 relays an evening he enjoyed with his friend Joe Moorhouse after going to watch the football. After dinner, they watched a short play on the television in which a young man throws something at a television screen and Mrs. M(oorhouse) claimed "yes, I feel like doing that many a time."

He hopes Ida Carroll is enjoying London and promises to meet her at Didsbury station in a couple of days 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.

With Ida Carroll holidaying at her family favourite destination, Port Patrick, Geoffrey Griffiths reminds himself to send the football papers to her. He has plans to see an afternoon play and to bring the Northern School of Music library lists "bang up-to-date." He has watched local teams from the University and the Northern Nomads.
For some reason he adds a menu or shopping list at the bottom of "grapefruit, smoked ham - excellent, mince tart, a little stilton, coffee."

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.

Weather, transport and sport are the topics of discussion here. Apparently Geoffrey Griffiths is anticipating the coldest March of the century and hopes for better weather for "the match". He advises Ida Carroll, in some investigative detail, the best routes on the London Underground to take to Wembley Stadium. Football then? On a cold March day? Geoffrey Griffiths, we find out in other letters, is something of a "transport nerd" as Ida Carroll affectionally labels 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.

This lovely letter talks of marriage, between Geoffrey Griffiths and Ida Carroll. Europe still being unsettled - perhaps after WW2? - "I'm blest if I know whether these times are good for the contemplation of marriage." Especially considering that "our respective environments have ordained differences in family and in friends... but you know how I feel about you, darling, and I am so happy in the knowledge that you love me."

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 Northern School of Music started off as the Matthay School of Music. But was it like? Get a glimpse into the first 10 years here!

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

How did the Northern School of Music actually become a thing? To find this out, we have to look at the First World War and its impact on 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.

To get to know how the Northern School of Music came into being, we have to jump backwards to the late 1800s, 30 years before the school opened, and to the story of its founding principal, Hilda Collens.

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

Inspired by Sacha Coward's #MuseumFromHome on Twitter, we want to bring you some of the early story of the Northern School of Music, the archives for which we don't have.

Find these videos in the exhibition and explore a small chunk of the Northern School of Music's history.

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 letter possibly near the start of WW2. Geoffrey Griffiths starts the letter with relief that Ida Carroll wasn't at the match as it was so cold, even wearing "stacks of clothing" - something we can all relate to! He would have preferred to have taken her to the movies.
What game do you think they were watching? What kind of match?
His savings have been stifled by "this blooming war", but has been banking his N.S. certificates - National Service?
He seems to be worried about a family home and what could happen to it if left unattended while he performs war duties. He asks Ida to look after the house, using some of his money(?) while he may be away. He wishes to work with the Royal Air Force but admits that it's not up to him.
He apologises that this is "a horrid letter" and that he "will do better 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.

Geoffrey Griffiths sends love, kisses and GBHs to Ida Carroll. Any idea what GBH is?
He also sends money for a charity fund for Russia and for a scholarship - for the Northern School of Music?
He ends by asking her to "please lose your cold very quickly." Ha!

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 will wait at their meeting place on Thursday evening for an hour - the corner of Wilmslow Rd and Fog Lane at the lights (or under the veranda if it is raining) - just in case Ida Carroll could come out and meet him there for a short while.
He describes a game night that got a bit hairy and uncomfortable, "so just see what can happen when your refining influence is withdrawn."
He relays that his work in the travel agency is slow, "gone to the dogs."

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.

Ooh I love this letter. The first page is full rhapsody about how it's too long until they meet again. "But with due reserve about Mondays, it is the rest of the week I dislike so, now. Three whole successive days, and I never see you."
He laments the state of his desk, that his "treasures" of photographs that can't be seen for the crowding on his desk.
He's arranging a meeting, for a rendezvous, on the corner of Fog Lane and Wilmslow Road in Manchester. And asks if, later, they could perhaps visit Cheadle Church and walk back through fields. He is disappointed in the Birch choir (the church at Birch was one closely connected to Walter Carroll, Ida's father, and the choir is the one he managed which he signed Geoffrey up to before the war started). In Geoffrey's opinion, there are not enough people attending choir rehearsals but "wartime is no excuse for letting it go."
He dreams of them both together, on "a cheerful run with some mysterious bus as the object."
We learn that he's writing from "the blooming cellar" but that the all clear has just been given - he's using his time during an air raid warning to write her this letter!

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.

Letter of affection and support from Geoffrey Griffiths to Ida Carroll of the Northern School of Music. It appears Ida is concerned about managing the school while its principal Hilda Collens is away until Christmas. He encourages her confidence, "it speaks oceans for your sweet patience," re says of her teaching ability, and that "I raise my hat to all kindly teachers of music!".
Griffiths was a member of the Home Guard "F" Battalion in the Second World War and he says it may be moving closer to Lapwing Lane, where Ida lives.
There's also a cheeky cameo appearance of Paul in this letter. Now, Paul appears to be some sort of pipe. Geoffrey smoked as far back as anyone alive can remember - one of the first things people noticed when they entered the school on Oxford Rd was the smell of his tobacco. Some ash ahs fallen on the letter - underlined by Geoffrey, as Paul's encouraging contribution to Ida's self esteem. Which for some reason is incredibly adorable.

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 photograph of Ida Carroll from around 1940. Alongside her career in music education, Carroll was also a freelance double bass player.
From Ida Carroll's personal collection.
(Date estimated)

Ref: CARROLL/11/3/5

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.

A gorgeous manuscript notebook from Margaret Mulvaney's time learning at the Northern School of Music.
Date is unknown.

Ref: MBaron

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

Some lovely pencilled manuscript music from Margaret Mulvaney's time learning at the Northern School of Music. If you can read them, give them a whistle!

Ref: MBaron

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 general music knowledge exam for the first year students at the Northern School of Music. Can you answer all the questions?

Ref: MBaron

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

An internal exam paper for senior students at the Northern School of Music. How would you have fared?

Ref: MBaron

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

An exam paper! Before 1952, students of the Northern School of Music had to travel to London and sit for the LRAM qualification as the school couldn't award their own degrees yet. This is the exam paper of Margaret Mulvaney.

Ref: MBaron

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

An absolutely gorgeous book of Margaret Mulvaney's notes as she studied at the Northern School of Music in the 1950s. The lessons go through music as well as considerations for teaching music to children, the primary focus of the school.
The exact date is unknown.

Ref: MBaron

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