Typed copy letter from Henry Willink to C.S. Lewis.
Writing in his capacity as Master of Magdalene College he offers Lewis a Fellowship and rooms at Magdalene and hopes that he won't be accused by other Colleges of using his prior news of the appointment to the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English as he was also the Vice-Chancellor. Explains the rules about quotas of Professorships at the Colleges and thinks that there will be two or three other Colleges in a position to offer him rooms but hopes he will accept Magdalene.
Typed letter (signed) from C.S. Lewis to Sir Henry Willink about the offer to take the chair of Medieval and Renaissance English.
Writes to Sir Henry in his capacity as Master of Magdalene College [he was also Vice-Chancellor of the University].
Thanks him and the College and says inches of bookshelf space was the important factor. In light of the confidential nature of their arrangements he asks how he should respond to any other College offering him a Fellowship. He was a child in such matters.
Typed copy letter from Sir Henry Willink to C.S. Lewis.
Was delighted that Lewis accepted their offer of a Fellowship and rooms at Magdalene.
Understands about the difficulty of him coming to Cambridge in the near future, he would just like to start their acquaintance and make sure his rooms were as he liked them.
[handwritten note by Willink at the bottom of the page]: "C.S. Lewis came into residence in October 1954 and was elected to a Professorial Fellowship on 18 January 1955".
Tells him she has been warmly welcomed and describes her feelings after he left. Describes in detail her visit to tour York Minister. Reassures him she is being looked after and sends him news of his parents. Updates him on Avie's health. Expresses her opinions on Mary and Ralph's friendship with Lord and Lady Nunburnholme. Hopes that peace will come soon.
Expresses her opinions about her stay with his parents and on his mother's personality. Acknowledges his letter. Discusses the progress of the war. Tells him that his father has returned home and about visiting a Russian family in need. Describes her morning activities. Apologises for a letter full of trifles.
Discusses studying a map to follow the progress of the war. Expresses her hopes for peace soon. Describes her morning activities. Reflects on a conversation with Avie about his mother and tells him about John's character. Expresses her wish for them all to live together at the Holt. Asks him where he might be sent next. Expresses her opinions about a speech given by President Wilson. Reflects on how the war has affected individual people's thinking about justice.
Tells him about Clare's reaction to getting her pet rabbits and a trip to Church with Marjorie. Discusses the progress of the war. Asks him if he would like apples sent to him. Expresses her wish for the war to end and to have him home. Voices her opinions about Natural Law in the Spiritual World.
Acknowledges his letter and asks if he will get to see Trafford and Geoffrey Keynes. Discusses the progress of the war. Tells him Clare has written him a letter. Informs him she has bought an account book and discusses financial matters. Tells him about news from Charterhouse. Describes tooth ache she has been suffering with.
Describes her morning feeding the cows with Clare. Describes the children playing and tells him of Clare's love of books. Discusses the progress of the war. Reflects on whether he will get his position at Charterhouse back after the war. Updates him on the visits they have had that week.
Acknowledges the letters she has received from him. Discusses the type of curtain to send him. Discusses the progress of peace talks. Asks him if he has fired his gun. Updates him on her father's health. Reflects on what they will think of each other when he is home and discusses the future.
Discusses in detail the patterns for his curtains. Updates him on her father and Berry's health. Describes what she has been reading in the Oxford Book. Wonders what it would be like to live on a farm. Discusses becoming a member of the Montessori Society and visiting their schools in London. Tells him she has decided on the fabric and pattern for his curtain.
Updates him on news from his mother's letter about the health of Avie and Doris. Tells him she had a nice weekend with Olive. Discusses in detail her opinions of the book Natural Law in the Spiritual World. Expresses her concern for her religious life and discusses the ways she can improve it. Updates him on Clare and Berry's progress. Discusses Clare's character and her relationship with Berry. Discusses the progress of the war.
Acknowledges his letter thanking her for the curtain. Asks him for more information about his Mess. Discusses the progress of the peace talks. Expresses her opinion about the Irish potato famine from the book she is reading. Updates him with news on Marjorie Waterhouse. Expresses her wish to buy a piano after the war. Describes the weather and sitting by the fire.
Discusses the progress of peace negotiations and their life at the Holt after the war. Expresses her opinions about War and Peace. Tells him she is reading the second book by Madame Montessori about education for children aged 7 - 10 years old, and that she has not got round to reading Mr Clutton-Brocks book. Informs him that Violet may leave them to go back to her parents after the war. Expresses her opinion about finding servants after the war. Discusses a conversation she had with Mr Raxworthy about the German Navy.
Discusses arrangements for moving back to the Holt. Expresses her enjoyment in reading War and Peace. Informs him of the guests they have arriving. Describes a disagreement between Mrs Woolten, Violet, and Marjorie over cutting back on milk consumption. Reflects on her feeling about the end of the war and when the bells for peace will ring. Expresses her opinion about the German and Russian Revolutions. Tells him about Mary Anne and Owen's plans to move from the Holt.
Writes of her anticipation to hear the news of peace. Discusses moving back to the Holt. Asks him to try and get home as soon as he can. Informs him that the bells have been rung for peace. Describes in detail the atmosphere at Church and in the streets with people celebrating, waving flags, and singing. Expresses her hopes that Clare will remember that day. Updates him on her progress in recruiting Mrs Trew to help with the Montessori classes and recruiting members. Describes a conversation with Bridget and Mary Anne. Hopes that she has articulated how happy and thankful she is with the peace.
Informs him she has had a second round of influenza and that she is still on bed rest. Expresses her hopes that he will be home soon. Acknowledges his last letters and expresses her happiness that he has seen Trafford and Geoffrey Keynes. Updates him on Berry's progress and her father's health. Expresses her love for him.
Describes in detail everything she has learned from reading the Montessori books. Discusses what kind of servants they need to advertise for when they are at the Holt. Describes how Clare climbs on everything and asks him to teach her methods of climbing. Expresses her impatience for his return. Discusses the difficulties in advertising for servants on a short time scale.
Describes her morning activities and gives him news from Avie. Reflects that she has not had a letter from him for awhile. Updates him on her health. Describes trying to recruit Montessori class members. Expresses her difficulties in trying to read when there are people around. Describes in detail the nature of Clare's intelligence and expresses her desire that he take an interest in talking to Clare when he is home. Updates him on Berry's progress.
Acknowledges his letter and discusses him buying a picture and asking the artist to paint Clare. Reflects on making friends unexpectedly. Expresses her wish to learn French. Describes in detail the Labour meeting about the League of Nations and gives her opinions of it. Updates him on news from Mary and Berry's progress.
Tells him about the uninspiring church service she attended. Expresses her views on religion and politics in detail. Describes the town during polling day. Acknowledges his letter telling her he has moved to Calais. Discusses the coal and wood situation at the Holt. Is sad to hear his headaches are back and asks him if he received his parcel of apples. Tells him about the books she is sending him. Describes a conversation with Owen O'Malley about his return and leaving the Holt. Informs him of Bob's new address in Dunkirk.
Describes a visit to a tea shop with Jelly. Expresses her impatience for him to be home and how thankful she is that he survived the war. Updates him on news of Doris. Describes her visits to Stephen and Bridget's house, and Joyce Fletchers'. Discusses the organisation of demobilisation.
19 December - Acknowledges his letter telling her he has applied for leave.
Discusses Christmas arrangements. Tells him David Pye has been asking after him. Discusses the arrangements for the nursery at the Holt. Asks him to see a doctor about his headaches and is glad to hear his ankle is fully healed. Expresses her opinions about Stephen Tallent's book.
Reflects on the last few months and expresses her sadness that he is not home for Christmas. Discusses the progress of demobilisation. Describes a conversation with Mary Anne and Violet about the Holt and the moving date. Expresses her concerns about Clare learning bad manners from the Fletcher boys. Tells him what presents she sent to his family and the preparations for Christmas. Reflects on all the things they can do together when he is home. Discusses the sugar ration.
Expresses her disappointment that he may not be home for another nine months. Recommends that he write to Mr Beveridge and Mr Fletcher about his leave. Discusses arrangements for the Holt in his continued absence. Asks him for his opinion about the Government's organisation of demobilisation. Expresses her gratitude for him surviving the war and her disappointment that it is taking so long for him to come home. Asks him what the French organisation for demobilisation is like. Discusses her opinions on Neitsche and Christianity and the merits of living alone.
Expresses her anxiety over the delay in the post. Describes her father playing billiards. Update's him on Clare's character. Tells him about an article she would like to read in the New Europe about Germany. Describes the garden at the Holt and her plans for it. Reflects on the people they will have to visit and if he will have a form class again. Expresses her thoughts about not wanting to write anymore because she would rather tell him in person. Sends him her love.
Tells him about collecting holly and describes a trip to Highdon's Ball in the cart. Tells him about the trees she climbed in the woods and Clare's reaction to her climbing down. Expresses her love of the trees and wishes he was there. Describes the weather. Asks him if he wants his daffodils sent to him. Informs him she is attending a meeting of the Young Wives Fellowship. Discusses the conversation she had with Mr and Mrs Fletcher and tells him she sent a formal letter to Mr Fletcher about his release. Discusses furniture arrangements for the Holt. Reflects on their relationship and on her own character. Tells him she loves him.
