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Anya Sainsbury was a dancer with The Royal Ballet, as Anya Linden, and created roles in several of Kenneth MacMillan's early ballets. She married John Sainsbury and they were great supporters of The Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera House as well as friends of Kenneth and Deborah MacMillan. The material in this file comprises

1. One page handwritten note from John Sainsbury to Kenneth and Debbie thanking them for their birthday wishes, dated Nov 8th, no year
2. One page letter handwritten on both sides, from Anya to Kenneth, c/o the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, forwarding Kate (Firestone's) contact details in California where Anya is staying, and sending best wishes for the forthcoming performances of Isadora in New York, undated but envelope postmarked June 1981
3. One page letter handwritten on both sides, from Anya to Kenneth congratulating him on the revival of Rite of Spring, with envelope, 26.10.1987
4. One page handwritten letter from John to Kenneth, sending congratulations for the performance of Rite of Spring, with envelope, 27.10.(1987)
5. Handwritten note to Kenneth from John and Anya (written by John) praising the performance 'of a true work of genius', undated by accompanied by a typed compliments slip dated 13.10.1989. The note refers to the performance of Requiem on 12.10.1989
6. Handwritten pencil draft of a thank you letter to John and Anya for the holiday on Crete that Kenneth, Deborah and Charlotte spent with the Sainsburys in 1991. Unrelated notes on the reverse in blue biro

One handwritten page of a holiday in Corfu with Deborah and Charlotte as the guests of Anya and John Sainsbury. The notes detail the journey by private boat from Southampton to Corfu, and other guests at the villa including Colette Clarke

1. Two copies of the Order of Service for the funeral of Kenneth MacMillan at St Paul's Church, Hammersmith, on 6 Nov 1992
2. Handwritten letter from Clement Crisp to Deborah MacMillan with a typed copy of his eulogy, Remembering Kenneth MacMillan, in which he records first seeing him in The Sleeping Beauty at the Royal Opera House in 1946, following his career as a dancer and then choreographer
3. Handwritten letter from Monica Mason to Deborah MacMillan with a typed copy of her words for Kenneth.
4. Typed copy of the Eulogy spoken by John Sainsbury remembering his career, but also the holiday on Corfu in 1991 when Kenneth, Deborah and Charlotte MacMillan joined John and Anya Sainsbury and their family

One file of correspondence and telegrams relating to the first night of Manon, with one later letter. The material comprises

1. 20 greetings telegrams sending good luck for the first night of Manon, including from Frederick Ashton, Natalia Makarova, John Tooley, 'The Touring Trash', Michael Wood. One dated 6 Apr 1974, others undated or postmarked 7 Mar 1974
2. One greetings card from Romayne Grigorova, Ballet Mistress
3. One handwritten letter from Arnold Haskell to Kenneth MacMillan sending an early edition of Manon for good luck
4. One ticket for the Gala Premiere of Manon at the Royal Opera House, 7 Mar 1974
5. One photocopy of a letter from the Comptroller to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother to The Earl of Drogheda, Chairman of the Royal Opera House, sending Her Majesty's warmest congratulations. On Clarence House headed notepaper, 8 Mar 1974
6. One handwritten postcard from Lord Donaldson, member of the Board of the Royal Opera House, to Kenneth MacMillan sending best congratulations. 9 Mar 1974
7. One handwritten letter from John Sainsbury, sending congratulations and love from he and Anya, 18 Mar 1974, with envelope
8. One handwritten letter from Dicky [Richard Buckle], excusing his review, with envelope, 12 Mar 1974
9. One typed letter on Community Relations Commission letter head, from Mark Bonham Carter, member of the Board of the Royal Opera House, offering congratulations and suggestions for some cuts to the work, 18 Mar 1974
10. One handwritten airmail letter from John Lanchbery to Kenneth MacMillan, about Manon being performed in Stockholm and asking to talk about the musical re-arrangement Kenneth MacMillan would like done, 18 Apr 1980

The first performance of The Prince of the Pagodas formed part of the celebrations for Kenneth MacMillan's 60th birthday. The cards and telegrams celebrate both the first night of the ballet and his birthday, with some also being Christmas cards. The material comprises:

1. Ten letters, including handwritten letters from Margot Fonteyn, thanking Kenneth MacMillan for dedicating the ballet to her, from Anthony Dowell, Zoe Dominic, and Angela and Nicholas Serota, Director of the Tate Gallery, typed letters from John Sainsbury, one congratulating MacMillan on the ballet, the other enclosing a copy of a letter from Edward, Duke of Kent saying how much he enjoyed the ballet
2. Three Christmas cards, from the students at White Lodge who appeared as pages, from Janet and Leo Kersley, and Colin Nears
3. Six postcards including one handwritten by Anya Sainsbury, wishing Kenneth a happy birthday and 'congratulations on your wonderful 'Pagodas'. The card includes a reference to a 'head' by Julian Sainsbury, presumably a birthday gift to Kenneth MacMillan from John and Anya Sainsbury
4. Four good luck telegrams from La Scala, National Ballet of Canada, the Hongkong Ballet, and Elaine McDonald (Scottish Ballet)
5. One invitation to the supper following the first performance of The Prince of the Pagodas, with handwritten list of names and a note from Kenneth MacMillan on the reverse.