Stapleford celebrates special relationship with Ralph Vaughan Williams

The South Wiltshire village of Stapleford will be paying its own musical tribute to one of Britain’s greatest composers, Ralph Vaughan Williams, on 12th October this year to mark the 50th anniversary of his death.

The tribute will take the form of an evening of Vaughan Williams music to be held in the village’s delightful Norman church of St Mary's. Among highlights will be live performances by John Powell and members of the acclaimed Salisbury-based St John Singers.

Stapleford claims a special affiliation with Vaughan Williams because he spent much of the summer of 1938 staying in the village at what was then Rose Cottage, now Thatcher’s Cottage, home to thatcher Jack Simper and his wife. Mrs Simper ran a small shop at the cottage and also let a bedroom with a small sitting room to paying guests.

In the summer of 1938, when he was 66, Vaughan Williams rented the room for some months and began to compose his Fifth Symphony here.

According to his second wife Ursula, Vaughan Williams would often walk the seven miles into Salisbury to meet up with his friend Sir Walter Alcock, who was the organist at Salisbury Cathedral. They would often play Bach together in the cathedral.

Why Vaughan Williams, who resided in Dorking at the time, ended up in Stapleford remains something of a mystery. Perhaps it was on the recommendation of friends, the Longmans (of publisher fame) who had a house in Great Wishford that they used during the fishing season. Or perhaps he might have had some contact with the vicar of Stapleford, Philip Mulholland, who ran a small village orchestra that played in the church. Jack Simper played the double bass with that orchestra. Unfortunately, letters relating to that period were destroyed by the composer's first wife, so the real reason is almost certainly lost to time. However, Vaughan Williams enjoyed his stay in the village so much that he wanted to return again the following year, but his plans were dashed by the outbreak of war.

Stapleford's musical tribute to Vaughan Williams will begin at 6.00 pm on Sunday 12th October at St Mary’s Church and everyone is welcome.

For further information, please contact Colin Carnegy on tel: 01722 790334 or via e-mail at: parsonage@toucansurf.com