Ivor Novello

David Ivor Davies (15 January 1893 – 6 March 1951), better known as Ivor Novello, was a Welsh composer, singer and actor who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. Born into a musical family, his first successes were as a songwriter. His first big hit was "Keep the Home Fires Burning", which was enormously popular during the First World War. After the war, Novello contributed numbers to several successful musical comedies and was eventually commissioned to write the scores of complete shows. In the 1920s, he turned to acting, first in films and then on stage, with considerable success in both.

Ivor Novello was claimed to have been the lover of bisexual West Indian cabaret singer and pianist, Leslie Hutchinson who had also been the lover of Cole Porter.

There is a story, mentioned by Peter Tatchell, that Winston Churchill had a one-off fling with Ivor Novello.

The Ivor Novello Awards for songwriting and composing, named in his honour, have been presented annually since 1955.