SIR - In your excellent Elgar Supplement (Worcester News, May 22) I was most interested to read Susan J Dolman's article referring to Elgar's reluctance to sign autographs.
It may be of interest to know that I hold, on behalf of my son, a piece of music with Elgar's pencilled signature on it.
It appears that years ago Elgar, accompanied by his friends Ivor Atkins and Edgar Day, attended a performance of Mendelsohn's Elijah in Gloucester Cathedral.
Elgar was anxious that young Edgar Day should follow the score and gave him his own copy, bidding him to keep it.
Edgar was assistant organist at Worcester Cathedral for more than 50 years. When my own family needed musical tuition I turned to Edgar.
Phil, my son, studied piano and organ. One day he announced his intention of attending a performance of Elijah in Worcester Cathedral whereupon Edgar presented him with the score he had received from Elgar.
He also taught him an unusual system of improvisation that he in turn had learned from Elgar. Phil went on to qualify as an organ builder and piano tuner then became involved in broadcasting and recording as musical director to Vince Hill, Shirley Bassey and other personalities.
He now lives and works in Florida writing arrangements for musical shows and holds a doctorate in music from Canterbury University, USA.
John Hinton, Worcester.
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