Peter Shepherd: George Walford Memorial

I wish I had been able to write much earlier, if only to give credibility to my expression of regret, forming in fact one of the main supplementary reasons for the writing of this letter, that I never made my peace with George. I suppose I vaguely thought the breach would heal itself in the course of time, so took no steps to try to heal it myself. Possibly I attached less importance in any case to the occasion of our ceasing communication; I recall the details now only dimly. However, I should have acknowledged his feelings about the whole matter.

It is encouraging to know that George’s papers are in the Institute in Amsterdam, with Harold’s. If in the end Harold’s and George’s work is given serious academic attention, it seems, then, that it will be by Dutchmen, Japanese and Israelis. The words in the Gospel according to St Matthew that refer to the honour in which a prophet is held come to mind.

George himself once (by rather obvious implication) reproached me for not having used my own position appropriately, and indeed it is not easy to explain my lack of relevant output. I can only at present acknowledge that it must have been frustrating; explanations may be attempted at some later time. They could be instructive.

July 1995

George Walford International Essay Prize

Peter Shepherd: George Walford Memorial

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