PBA Galleries

Collection assembled by noted Darwin collector Joseph Garrity, including five holograph letters from Darwin; two later 8x10 black & white photographs of Darwin; approximately 48 4x6" color photographs of Darwin’s home and haunts as well as places around St. Andrews concerning golf history; printed program, No. 83 of 85 copies for a 1996 Bernard Darwin Weekend at Aberdovey with a match between members of the British Golf Collectors Society and the Aberdovey Golf Club, and a dinner menu; two programs for the 1995 and 1996 Annual Dinner of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, etc.

The first Darwin letter written from Corringes Downe, Kent  in 1940 to Dear Harden “I knew Braid’s seventieth birthday was this month but like a fool I forgot to write about it till it was past. Still I think it is even now well worth an article and I have written one accordingly- better late than never. I think it would be nice to have a photograph of him. I expect you have plenty in stock, Sincerely, Bernard Darwin." The next from October 30, 1940 to Adelson Burrell Horne, actor known as Arnee Hall “I am evacuated from Kent, which was altogether unpleasant, hence my delay in receiving your letter. He goes on to discuss Dickens’ drinking habits as being “most temperate and to say otherwise would not only be defamatory but would bring down on the head of the defamer all the violence of all the Dickens fellowships like a cart load of bricks”.etc’; his relocation came when bombs meant for London hit  near his house, and he relocated to the Cotswolds; from Cambridge in 1945 he writes “Mr. Whittaker of Country Life sent me an old piece of the St. Andrews notepaper, which you asked him  to forward to me, The pictures are quite charming and make me want to go back there”. A 2 page letter on R&A stationery of 1957 written to his Doctor Dawson when he was 81 and at St Andrews for the British Open telling him he has to watch the Open from the big window in the club where he is more comfortable than walking. “We have had wonderful weather for the Open-really too fine as it makes the golf too easy. (won by Bobby Locke)” “It has been so hot in Scotland, I believe people have been bathing here at midnight”. The fifth letter was written from Dormey House Club in 1958 to golf writer Pat Ward-Thomas at 82 years, thanking him for the recent visit etc. the letters are all fine with typewritten transcriptions. All the material neatly housed in a 3 ring binder. Collection of Joseph Garrity.