Ivor Novello (15^th January 1893 to 6^th March 1951)

Ivor Novello was a massively successful composure, actor and entertainer in the early 20^th century. As you can guess the….er….Ivor Novello Awards are named after him.

He was born in Cardiff (the bay now features a statue of him.) His mother was an internationally-known singing teacher and choral conductor (his dad was a rent collector.) They must have been doing well as they privately educated Ivor at Cardiff then Gloucester before he went to Oxford University. He said his romantically-inclined songs came from having been exposed to sacred choral music as a lad.

At 15 he had song published despite people saying he would never make a living from music (he left £4 million in today’s money.) In 1913 took a flat above The Strand Theatre and this was his London home for the rest of his life. A year later as the First World War flared he wrote "Keep the Home Fires Burning". This song echoed the feelings of countless families ripped asunder by the war. This brought him much fame and at 21 he was wealthy.

Songs and musicals ensued and his star rose into the heavens.

At 58 he died suddenly from a coronary thrombosis only a few hours after completing a performance in the run of King's Rhapsody. Despite his fortune he never moved away from the flat in this building. Its splat in the centre of London’s Theatreland so why would he move? I only saw the plaque as it was raining and I needed to shelter before the coach came to collect us.

He was cremated at the Golders Green Crematorium and his ashes are buried beneath a lilac bush and marked with a plaque that reads "Ivor Novello 6th March 1951 'Till you are home once more'