London County Council

Finsbury Park Open-Air Theatre,

London, England, United Kingdom

The LCC held concerts in outside venues in the summertime. The open-air theatre at Finsbury Park was the most commonly used from the mid-1940s to the early 1950s. It is not definitively known if Julian Bream performed at Finsbury Park when he won the Junior Exhibition Award for playing the piano in the summer of 1945 (award: free music classes on Saturday at the Royal College of Music). If this was not the location, it was likely a place very similar. Julian later plays the cello at two other LCC events. The first in December 1946 and the second in February 1947.

Royal College of Music

London, England, United Kingdom

Julian begins his four-hour-long Saturday sessions at the Royal College of Music. Tuition was granted to him for winning the competition for playing the piano earlier this year.

Dr Boris Perott's home

1, St. Dunstans Road, Barons Court,

London, England, United Kingdom

Dr Perott was President of the London Philharmonic Society of Guitarists. While club meetings were not held at his home, Julian and his father would travel 3 hours every week to Perott's home in London so Julian could have a two-hour guitar class. Julian started taking guitar instruction with Dr Perott in Late April 1945 and they lasted for about a year.

The Cambridge Theatre Auditorium

before current remodel

Mr. Adrian Van der Horst Flat
39 Thurloe Place (flat above the Cafe de Venice).

Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom
The fourth meeting of the Philharmonic Society for Guitarists took place at Mr. Adrian Van der Horst's flat above the Cafe de Venice on July 18, 1945. Their meetings took place there every month from July 1945 to November 1945.

Battersea Borough Maternity Home

19 Bolingbrooke Grove,

Battersea, London, England, United Kingdom

Julian Bream's place of birth. No picture is available.

Social and Athletic Club of Gays (Hampton) Ltd.

Hampton, London, England, United Kingdom

Julian plays at the Social and Athletic Club of Gays (Hampton) Ltd. on March 31, 1947. It was a benefit concert with soprano Eve Webb, bassist Alfred Terrell and pianist Reginald Evans. The post war premier of Concerto pour Guitare et Quatuor, Op. 48. by Ernest Shand. Julian was accompanied by Reginald Evans on the piano. Julian used a prototype guitar constructed by the Abbott-Victor Music company. Initially, after construction, the guitar sounded better than any other guitar Julian had owned to that point. For Julian’s solo portion and the concerto accompanied by the piano, Julian’s guitar was fixed with an amplifying apparatus due to the poor acoustics of the venue.

Bream Family - First Home

Battersea, London, England, United Kingdom

Julian Bream lived here after being born in the Battersea Borough Maternity Home.

It is unclear how many months he lived at this unknown address. Button's book suggests around 18 months but there is evidence that suggests the family moved sooner. There is also evidence that Henry had bought the Hampton house in 1933 but it appears that they didn't move into the house until later.

Julian often described his first home as being near "the Dog's Home and the Electric Plant."

The address to this home has never appeared in all our research at the JBG site so it is likely that they rented for a short period of time. It is also possible that the Battersea home that Julian refers to was actually his grandmother's house at 12 Thirsk Rd, Battersea. It appears that Violet and the children spent a lot of time at their grandmother's home and pub.

Miss Johanna (Janus) Vollers - home

16, Elwill Park Langley, Beckenham. Tel. : BEC. 2742

The Princess Royal (The Drum and Monkey)

Neighborhood beer house owned by Julian's Grandmother's Alice Wildgoose

at 47 Condray Street, Battersea, London, England, United Kingdom

This pub was run by Julian's maternal grandmother from 1943 to 1951. Julian loved visiting his grandmother's pub. She had an old upright piano that Julian liked to play and practice with as a child to entertain the customers. Later he plays the guitar as well.

Julian Bream’s official birth certificate bears the address of 19 Bolingbroke Grove, Battersea, England. This was the address of the Battersea Borough Maternity Home that was within a short walking distance from the Bolingbroke Hospital, also on Bolingbroke Grove. The Bolingbroke Hospital did not have a maternity ward and only dealt with complicated deliveries that required surgery. The maternity ward buildings at 19 and 20 Bolingbroke were very old buildings and eventually stopped providing service by 1939. The buildings suffered further severe structural damage during WWII, therefore they were demolished in the early post-war period. Unlike most children in Britain at this time, Julian knew he was not born at home. He knew he was born at Bolingbroke Grove. By the time Julian would have any memory of the area he no longer lived in Battersea, the maternity ward no longer existed and the Bolingbroke Hospital did not bear a building number. There was no building at 19 Bolingbroke just the hospital nearby. Julian always assumed he was born at the hospital on Bolingbroke when he was in actuality born at the maternity home that did not appear to have been directly associated with the hospital. While Julian Bream does not mention the hospital or the address where he was born while he was being interviewed for the film Julian Bream: A Life in Music, a short film clip was shown of the front of the older section of the hospital leading all to assume that he was born at the Bolingbroke Hospital. In a discussion with Paul Balmer, the director of the Bream documentary, he stated that Julian just told him to take a short film clip of the hospital at Bolingbroke in Battersea without giving him an actual address. It appears that about 21% of the children in Battersea were born at this maternity facility between the period of 1921 to 1939. This is a large percentage of births when you consider that most children during this time in England were born at home.[1]

[1] Lost Hospitals of London, https://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/batterseamaterniry.html

Cambridge Theater

London, England, United Kingdom

Andrés Segovia travels to London for a broadcast on the 25th of November. On December 7, 1947, he performs Castelnuovo-Tedesco's “Concerto in D. Op. 99 for guitar and orchestra” with the New London Orchestra and Alec Sherman conducting. The concert takes place at the Cambridge Theatre in London and Julian and his father are in attendance. Julian's father was able to get two tickets near the front of the balcony. Julian brings his binoculars so he can concentrate on Segovia's technique, primarily his right hand. Julian recalls being so young and struggling to keep the heavy binoculars fixated on Segovia's hands.Julian meets Segovia at Alliance Hall 11 days later and plays for the maestro.

This page is dedicated to all the places that had some degree of importance and contributed to Julian Bream's development as a person and a musician.

Central Hall

Westminster, London, England, United Kingdom

The British Federation of Banjoists, Mandolinists, Guitarists Junior Trophy - Southern Rally is held at Central Hall in Westminster. Julian does not compete due to his young age but performs as a "special" item at the end. He performs "Rondoletto" by Darr. The audience was so taken by the performance they applauded for numerous encores.  Julian played a study and prelude by Carcassi. While the audience applauded for more, Julian bowed and left the stage after the second encore. Julian signs autographs for the first time. There may not have been a "trophy" involved for Julian but the event represented a high honour for the performer.

Bolingbrooke Hospital

Bolingbrooke Grove

Battersea, London, England, United Kingdom

Incorrectly thought to be Julian Bream's place of birth.

This is the hospital Julian Bream assumed he was born in because the Battersea Borough Maternity Home no longer existed by the time he could have detailed memories. They were within walking distance from each other also on Bolingbroke Grove

Colonial Hostel

Earl's Court, London, England, United Kingdom

Julian plays a recital at the Colonial Hostel, Earl's Court, London on May 4, 1947. Seventy people attend and Julian plays a very small, used Panormo guitar. He plays for 2 hours to an audience from many different parts of the world. He finishes with “Chanson Hindu” and Usher’s “Sonata in A”. The audience is thrilled and requests that he repeat “Chanson Hindu”. The organizer of the recital declares "in Julian, we have a Liszt of the guitar." Julian was presented with a suitably inscribed book on music.

Rectory Secondary Modern School(then Rectory Comprehensive School and now Hampton High)

Julian attended Rectory Secondary Modern School on his return to Hampton after being evacuated to Cornwall. It is at school that Julian first remembers displaying an interest in guitar music, particularly with the plectrum guitar

The Cambridge Theatre in the 1950s

Courtesy of Gerry Atkins

Mrs. Kingsmill-Lunn Flat

38a Holland Park Avenue, in the

Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom
The first meeting of the Philharmonic Society for Guitarists took place at Mrs. Kingsmill-Lunn's home on April 21, 1945. Julian and his father show up without their guitars not knowing what to expect. Julian is asked, "Can you play something?" Someone lent him a guitar and he played "Study in B minor" by Fernando Sor to everybody's amazement. The following two meetings (May and June) were also held at Mrs. Kingsmill-Lunn's flat.

Cheltenham Town Hall

Julian is a guest artist with Arthur Cole’s Cheltenham Spa Palm Court Orchestra at Cheltenham Town Hall on January 4, 1948. He was billed as the ‘Famous Boy Guitarist’. He played the “Serenata Española” by Malats, “Fandanguillo” by Turina and the “Fantasia” from Bellini’s opera I Capuletti ed I Montecchi transcribed by Mertz. Cole publicly praised Julian on his 'vivacious imagination', 'sense of phrasing' and 'perspicuity'. It ensured that the recital the next day would be well attended (his second public recital at Cheltenham Public Library, Art Gallery and Museum). Julian played with the Panormo guitar he had bought last month.

Julian Bream' rented flat lived on

Pitt Street, Kensington

In March 1953 accidentally left his guitar on the sidewalk.

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Hansworth Town Hall

Hansworth, England, United Kingdom

Julian plays a radio broadcast concert at Hanworth Town Hall on June 10, 1948. He played Shand’s concerto. For this broadcast, Julian had to revert back to the Panormo guitar.

Hampton Court Casino

Witney Social Centre, Oxfordshire

St. Cuthbert's Church, London

Arts Council in Manchester

Cowdry Hall in Cavendish Square

Mercury Theatre

Wigmore Hall

Aldeburgh Festival

British Army base in Devizes in the Pay Corps

Royal Artillery at Woolwich

The Club of Gays at Hampton

Wilfrid M. Appleby - home

47 Clarence Street,

Cheltenham, Gloscoshire, England, United Kingdom

Henry and Julian would meet at Appleby's house early when he had a concert in Cheltenham. Julian would practice and Appleby and Henry would discuss the programme and other guitar-related issues. Emotions always ran high in any discussion with Appleby and Henry and Julian likely witness more than one heated discussion while at the Appleby home.

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC Studios)

London, England, United Kingdom

Julian plays his first radio show for the BBC Home Service called the Children's Hour for Young Artists. He played Turina's "Fandanguillo", a Carcassi prelude and Schumann's "Romanza". He was paid one guinea and was sent a congratulatory mail-bag which confirmed the popularity of his appearance on the show.  He performs with the Maccaferri guitar (guitar with additional unfretted strings) which gave Wilfred M. Appleby displeasure when he tuned in to hear the broadcast.

Special places

Alliance Hall

Westminster, London, England, United Kingdom

In January 1946, The PSG membership had grown considerably since last April and it was necessary to move the meetings that included performances to a larger venue. Prior to the Alliance Hall, the meeting had taken place at the home of PSG members.Julian would end up performing at Alliance Hall nearly every month for the next few years.

Prince and Princess Galitzine Mansion

Wilton Cresent, Knightsbridge, London, United Kingdom

Julian plays at a very select after-dinner party on November 22, 1946, St. Cecilia's Day, along with other entertainment for the guest of Prince and Princess Galitzine. They were related to Queen Mary and the concert was at their mansion in Wilton Crescent, in Knightsbridge. He plays mainly Russian and Spanish compositions. This was the first live performance in which Julian receives a check as payment for his performance; therefore, he considers this his first professional engagement. He got paid 2 guineas for playing 4 or 5 pieces and he was allowed to eat with the guest. Due to wartime rations, Julian had never seen so much food. Meat, especially, was difficult to come by during wartime rationing. He ate so much food that he became ill.

​JulianBreamGuitar.com

Second Home

25, Cleveland Avenue

Hampton, London, England, United Kingdom

Julian's parents, Henry and Violet moved to Hampton on the Thames when they needed more room for their son and their soon-to-be-born daughter Janice. Julian moved here with his parents in 1935 and it remained his official residence until his father died of cancer in November 1950 and the house went up for sale.

Cheltenham Public Library, Art Gallery and Museum

Chinese Porcelain Room.

51 Clarence St,

Cheltenham, Gloscoshire, England, United Kingdom

Julian plays his "trial" recital on December 7, 1946, at the Cheltenham Public Library, Art Gallery and Museum in the Chinese Porcelain Room to nearly 80 people. He plays with an adult-sized Salvador Ibáñez classical guitar loaned to him by W. Appleby about 2 hours prior to the recital. The event is essentially a private concert held by Cheltenham Guitar Circle.  Julian would play a second concert at the library in a larger room on February 17, 1947. This would be his first formal public recital.