ORIGINAL SIGNED LETTER

Signed by Author. Original Signed Letter by Sir John Betjeman A typed letter measuring approx 8 ins x 5 ins on white paper with the heading in orange, to the right the address and telephone number: 43 CLOTH FAIR, LONDON, E.C.1. Monarch 1698. The address has been altered in Betjeman’s hand to read E.C.1. A 7JJ. The letter typed in black reads: " Dear Mr Ellis, I am honoured to have a postcard from you and its kind remarks. I don’t think I could ever write the words of a musical. This is because I am quite unmusical myself and cannot sing in tune, and therefore do not think in those terms. But yours is a very nice idea and [in Betjeman’s own hand] and you are a great man too. and then signed by Sir John Betjeman. Dated 1st September 1966. Still in its original mailing envelope. The recipient of this letter (Vivian Ellis) was one of Britain’s greatest song writers who created moore than 60 English stage musicals and was behind many of the popular songs which thrilled listeners before and after WW2.