Thank you for your letter. It is nice to hear that somebody is interested in my father's music. I have some manuscripts here which I must sort out. This will take a little time, but I will communicate with you as soon as possible, & maybe we could arrange to meet, - either you come here, or I could very easily come to Oxford for the day. My father was not only a musician, but also a sportsman – played cricket for Kent, at one time was at +2 handicap golfer, a wizard tennis player & I believe, good at billiards!
I will be in touch.
Yours sincerely, Jean Hadley
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I have been through such MSS as I have here, & there are no choral works at all; all instrumental, mostly (MS) for cello/piano written for my Mother who was a cellist! I have never heard of the motet “Te Deum Patrem”, neither have Ralph Downes or Thomas Armstrong whom I have contacted. The Service in C♯ minor is published I believe & still in use, & also “Hodie”, & I think some responses. I'm sure you know all this. I can only add overleaf one or two rather nice things about his athletic achievements!
I have a treasured copy of The Lily Vol. XXI September, 1957 no. 4 which you could get from Magdalen College School, containing an appreciative article about my father. I see it talks of his athletic interests. There is a charming photograph somewhere of HCS taking the 9am choir practice on a Saturday, clad in the appropriate clothes (in those day plus 2's)! for a dash to Frilford golf course where he would happily spend the rest of the day.
The present (or recent) secretary of Kent County Cricket Club kindly sent me some copies of one or two matches in which he participated including a game against the Australians when he scored 71, & other county games with nice scores of 77, 142 & 68, round about the turn of the century! A long time ago! It is touching to see his name in the pavilion at Canterbury when I go & watch cricket there. (A latent passion for the game has manifested itself over the last few decades, & a day at Lords is my idea of bliss!)
I should be interested to see the results of your researches one day. The only complete MS here is a sonata in 2 movements for cello & piano which my Mother arranged for viola & I performed with Norman Tucker at a Ladies Musical Society many years ago. I think the most likely person to help you would be Philip Taylor. I expect you know him or met him in the past.
Good wishes to your work! It must be lovely to have been at Magdalen, & now to be assistant organist at Christ Church -
Yours sincerely
Jean Hadley (Stewart)
52 Darwin Crescent Gloucester Avenue NW1 7BQ
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52 Darwin Court Gloucester Avenue London NW1 7BQ
24.1.93
Dear Mr Lawford,
Thank you very much for your letter & the copy of Te Deum Patrem; & the music at services during January 1993. I shall try to come to an evensong at one of the first two weeks in February, & shall seek you out afterwards.
Well done! to get the anthem published; & I hope it catches on.
There is one error about H.C.S. He was born in 1868, but died in 1942 (not 32) which I remember only too well, during the war.
I don't think we can do anything about that; but I do remember that during the Second World War he wished to be useful, & went to classes, - I think on Boars Hill (Oxford) to learn to identify aircraft to help the defences!
This is many moons ago. He was an extremely modest & shy man, but beloved by many, professional & friends.
I came across a book recently with reference to cricket:-
The Jubilee Book of Cricket inscribed inside: “To H.C. Stewart” - “from his friend Ranjitsinhji”. MDCCCXCVII They played together, I assume for Kent. Ancient but fascinating history!
