Letter from Hubert Harry to Walter Carroll in which Hubert thanks Carroll for the advice. He is pleased that Carroll liked the cheese he sent. He updates Carroll on his news: he has been broadcast on the radio and describes the programme. He hopes to soon take the examination for the Prix de Virtuosite in April and June. He has a concert coming up in April. "I am well, woking hard, thinking well - and deeply, deeply grateful (even if I procrastinate horribly with my letters!) for my dear friedn Dr. Carroll." He reminisces about their Wednesday night talks.

Ref: HH/4/9

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

Walter Carroll reminisces about talking with Hubert at the spot where is is writing, "Our meetings gave us both much pleasure and seem almost to belong to dreamland!" He writes about politics, proclaiming that "Parliament are the only people who have plenty."

Ref: HH/4/8

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

Walter Carroll is pleased to hear Hubert's judgement about his future is "steady" and that "a wide and varied view now is better than a too sudden decision." He advises Hubert to carry on, doing stead work every day and not to panic about the future. He shares with Harry that she should not "change a vital principle because of a temporary clash of method: and never believe that any one interpretation is necessarily the last and best. Art is infinite."

Ref: HH/4/7

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

Walter Carroll informs Hubert Harry that the letter is dictated and not in his hand as "my hands will not bear long usage." He thanks Hubert for the letter and advises him not to leave Switzerland before midsummer 1947. He encourages him to continue to work with "X" until Christmas, and that he would "greatly benefit by visiting other towns, meeting musicians, hearing fine players and gaining precious knowledge by this experience." Hubert should continue to practice and he advises him to consult with Hilda Collens about what to do after Christmas. He further advises Hubert to believe in himself and to "face everything cheerfully."

Ref: HH/4/6

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

Walter Carroll confesses that his writing is getting weaker, and on his work. "Life is a real game of chess: always striving: making blunders: then striving again." He is pleased that Hubert seems optimistic about his time at the Lucerne Conservatoire and predicts that "1946 will be a great star in your firmament."

Ref: HH/4/5

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

Walter Carroll thanks Hubert Harry for the fruit he sent and hopes Hubert's Latin is improving.

I can now only read this letter in "expectant yet disappointed teacher voice."

Ref: HH/4/4

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

Walter Carroll confesses to Hubert Harry that in later life, the greatest pleasure is to be of service to someone, to be helpful and that "every time you feel joy in giving pleasure to others you are furthering the welfare of all." In younger years the urge is to lead.

Ref: HH/4/3

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

Walter Carroll here talks about some unidentified object - an instrument maybe? - marketed at £303, in his letter to Hubert Harry. He says that he can be found in his room on Albert Square. Now, this might indicate that Walter Carroll worked with the Manchester School of Music. This school was a private venture offering private music lessons in the basement of one of the buildings at Albert Square. The school no longer exists and there is very little information about it.
If you remember the school, please do get in touch!

Ref: HH/4/2

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

Walter Carroll (1869-1955, father of Ida Carroll, teacher, composer and music education professional) sends a note to Hubert Harry thanking him for a gift. He writes from Portpatrick, a favoured holiday spot for him and his family, which inspired some of his most successful compositions for children.

Ref: HH/4/1

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 Carroll, in her late 80s, writes that she is "fit as a flea" but that her sister Elsa and friend Griff are weakening. She is grateful to think that she has continued the legacy of Hilda Collens and Walter Carroll and that she is "still FIGHTING FIT!!"

Ref: HH/3/19

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 time flies! Ida Carroll reflects on the years and updates Hubert Harry on friends health.

Ref: HH/3/18

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 Carroll thanks Hubert for the calendar he sent at Christmas from Switzerland. She relays that it's not just her that enjoys them, but that other colleagues take the images from previous months and enjoy them also. She updates Hubert on the health of her sister Elsa and friend Griff. She remains in good spirits despite two burglaries in the last 6 months.

Ref: HH/3/17

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 Carroll updates Hubert Harry on the health of her sister Elsa and partner Griff. She writes that she is keeping busy with work, "but as you know, I thrive on hard work - just as well!"

Ref: HH/3/16

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 Carroll talking about her 80th birthday, "but I don't feel a day over 30."

(Birthday goals.)

Ref: HH/3/15

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 Carroll relays how the Christmas arrangements were made at the Royal Northern College of Music, claiming that there is not enough of a holiday to respond to all the letters she receives. She writes that Philip Jones "The Brass Man" knows Hubert from Lucerne and hopes he relayed her best wishes to Hubert.

The archive also has the archive of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble! An incredible collection of arrangements for the ensemble, tour papers and programmes.

Ref: HH/3/14

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 Carroll wonders whether Hubert Harry will he will be visiting England. She updates him on the new college, that is now the Royal Northern College of Music. "I bet Miss Collens would be tickled by that!" She calls it "really quite stupendous."

Ref: HH/3/13

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 Carroll writes to Hubert Harry, pleased that he enjoys teaching, "one can only be really happy if one loves one's work." She is talking with Forsyth's music shop about French and German translations of Walter Carroll's work. She is going to write to Clifford Curzon to reassure him that the Northern School of Music does still exist and will only become part of the new College the following year.

Ref: HH/3/12

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 Carroll sends a note to former Northern School of Music student Hubert Harry. She reminisces about the time he played at one of the London orchestras conducted by Stanley Pope and updates him that the new College will open in 1972.
The building ended up being delayed and opened in early 1973, with the Royal Manchester College of Music and the Northern School of Music operating out of their own buildings as the Northern College of Music (soon to be Royal).

Ref: HH/3/11

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

As the Northern School of Music turns 50, Ida Carroll writes to Hubert Harry (former school pupil) to update him on the celebrations. Knowing that change is coming for the start of the Royal Northern College of Music in a few years, she updates him on mutual friends, keeping the connections of the Northern School of Music alive.

Ref: HH/3/10

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

Happy New Year! Ida Carroll sends greetings to Hubert Harry and remembers visiting Switzerland just before World War II. She describes her Christmas at home and with the Northern School of Music.

Ref: HH/3/9

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 sweet note from Ida Carroll to Hubert Harry thanking him for the calendar he sent at Christmas. She describes a concert she went to from the Halle in which Clifford Curzon played.

Ref: HH/3/8

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 Carroll says she had no idea of Hubert Harry's reasons for staying away from England until she realised the "grave risk" he took in performing at Festival Hall the previous year. The issue she refers to is the very real possibility of Hubert being called to national service, as conscription was in place through to 1960. She relays that the future of the Northern School of Music depends on finance.

Ref: HH/3/7

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

Heartfelt letter in which Ida Carroll relays the death of Hilda Collens to Hubert Harry. Hilda was Hubert's piano teacher when he was a student at the Northern School of Music. She describes how the Northern School of Music reacted and the funeral service. She asks Hubert to give a memorial recital for Collens in England and offers to pay the expenses, at Houldsworth Hall.

Ref: HH/3/6

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 Carroll thanks Hubert Harry for his letter after the news of Walter Carroll's death (Ida's father and renowned Manchester music educator). Walter's passing "was happy and quiet - just a gradual diminuendo to the double bar." Carroll enquires if he is ever coming back to England.

Hubert moved to Switzerland just after WW2, to continue his studies and avoid the interruption of post-war conscription. He ended up moving there!

Ref: HH/3/5

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