ABSTRACT
The dark clouds of the 1914–18 war were obscuring the skies when I first met Havergal Brian at Mrs Valentine’s house, known as Naerodal, at 73 Gravelly Hill North, Erdington, Birmingham, where I had lodgings. Brian was given Mrs Valentine’s address by the Dunlop Company, by whom he was employed at that time. I personally have no record of the exact date of this meeting, and the evidence relating to it is indeterminate. In a letter to me dated 14 February 1968, Brian writes:
Thank you for your letter and also for your generous gift [bottle of Bristol Cream Sherry] which appropriately enough arrived this morning – Valentine’s Day, for it was at Mrs Valentine’s house that we met years ago at Erdington. 50 years is a long time …
