Compiled from the booklet 'Meher Baba’s Visits to
England',
Charles Purdom's book "The God-Man" and the website
'Avataric Pathways' (currently unavailable)
1931
12th September: Baba was met at Victoria Station by Herbert Davy (Kitty Davy’s brother) and Meredith Starr and driven past Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, through Hyde Park and on to 32 Russell Road, Kensington. He was greeted at the door by Margaret Craske.
13th September: East Challacombe in Combe Martin, Devon (A spiritual retreat founded by Meredith Starr). Here he met with Charles Purdom, Ann Powell, Margaret Starr’s brother Kenneth Ross and Quentin Todd amongst others. (During Baba’s stay, on 21st Sept,. Hazrat Babajan, one of Meher Baba's spiritual Masters dropped her body.)
24th September: Returned to Russell Road.
25th September: Visited the Victoria and Albert Museum, Westminster Abbey with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Queens Hall (now St. George's Hotel) Great Portland St, near to the BBC
26th September: .A box was reserved for Baba at the Coliseum Theatre to see a performance of The White Horse Inn, where He met Delia deLeon for the first time. Baba also met Kim Tolhurst during this period. She lived with Delia at Compayne Gardens, Hampstead.
2nd October: Baba agreed to a meeting with Mahatma Gandhi at Kingsley Hall, Powis Road, where Gandhi and his entourage were staying.They had first met aboard the SS Rajputana on 1st September, when Gandhi was en route to the Round Table Conference on India. (Kingsley Hall is the only building in the area to survive the London blitz of WW2 which levelled all else around.) Shortly after meeting with Gandhi, Baba left for Constantinople.
1932
7th April: Arrived Russell Road
During this stay Baba visited the British Museum, Kew Gardens, Petersham Hotel, rode on the escalator at Piccadilly Circus and visited the Lyric Theatre.
8th April: Filmed with Charles Purdom, for Pathé Newsreel, outside Russell Rd. Visited the Royal Albert Hall and the Q Theatre, Kew Bridge (now a block of flats).
10th April: Visited Hampton Court Palace
11th & 13th April: Baba sat for the sculptor Edward Merrett at his studio 36, Adam and Eve Mews, Kensington.
15th April: Invited to view the film from 8th April at PARAMOUNT Film Studio, School Road, Willesden,NW10 (now Acton).
During this visit Baba stayed with Kim and Desmond Tolhurst at 15 Compayne Gardens, West Hampstead and also visited Pennbury Grove, Penn in Buckinghamshire.
17th April: Baba's last visit to East Challacombe.
22nd April: Visited Wild Pear Beach
24th April:Returned to Russell Road London and at once left for Switzerland.
9th May: Returned and stayed at the Fellowship Club 46 Lancaster Gate for 4 days.
12th May: Visited the National Gallery and the House of Commons, signing His name in the visitors' book.
13th May: Baba left from Southampton for the U.S.A.
6th December: Returned to London and stayed at The Knightsbridge Hotel for seven days.
14th December: Departed for Switzerland.
1933
9th October: Baba stayed at the Hygeia House Hotel 37 Warrington Crescent for 13 days.
Met with Dr. William Donkin, Charles Purdom, Annie Bessant’s daughter and visited Will and Mary Backett at their home - Old Oak Cottage, Halstead, Sevenoaks, Kent..
11th October: Visited the Q Theatre, Kew Bridge (now a block of flats).
17th October: Went to the Prince of Wales Theatre.
18th October: Visited the artist Charles Shalimar’s studio.
20th October: Quentin introduced Baba to Ivor Novello
21st October: Ivor Novello invited Baba to the Globe Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, now the Gielgud Theatre.
22nd October: Departed from Victoria Station for Dover and Calais.
1934
26th June: Arrived at Victoria Station and stayed at Herbert’s flat 61 Compayne Gardens, West Hampstead for six days.
28th June: Met with Charles Purdom to discuss writing his book about Baba.
29th June: Reception at Countess Kitty Pahlen’s home at 23 Jubilee Place. In the evening met 15 of her friends, mostly Russian royals.
30th June: Luncheon at the Kohinoor Indian Restaurant, then driven by Mrs Ford to visit the Precey Family at 16 Lockyer St, off Long Lane, SE1 4PJ. Met with children Bill and Nellie and mother Jessie, who was recovering from undergoing surgery the previous day. Then an evening reception for 50 people organised by Will and Mary Backett at the Circle Editorial Committee Office, 50 Charing Cross. Attended Margaret and Quentin’s performance at the Royal Albert Hall.
2nd July: Minta - Delia's sister, Minta, drove Baba and her grandmother to the Star and Garter (now The Petersham Hotel) in Richmond for tea, before He left for Switzerland.
5th July: Left by car to Dover and Ostend.
29th November: Arrived at Victoria Terminus and stayed at the Hygeia House Hotel for 5 days.
Baba went to see Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park and the West End. It was the Duke and Duchess of Kent’s wedding.
1st December: Attended another reception at the Circle Editorial Committee Office, 50 Charing Cross for 70 people.
5th December: Departed by train to Southampton for the USA .
1936
4th November: Stayed at Hygeia House Hotel for 3 days and also visited Rubens Hotel near Victoria Station.
6th November: Baba left for Zurich.
1952
Baba flew in from New York and stayed at the Rubens Hotel, near Victoria Station.
1st August: Mandali landed early morning and then went missing for some hours.
2nd August: Dr. Donkin arranged for an appointment with the orthopaedic consultant Sir R. Mumford-Jones.
Baba went to a comedic performance of Richard Attenborough at the Q Theatre and met an agent outside.
Interviews at the Charing Cross Hotel included Tom and Dorothy Hopkinson, Molly and Anne Eve and Ken and Alice Lawson and family. Baba also met Fred Marks on this visit.
6th August: Left for Zurich.
Arrived back mid July and stayed for 2 days in a suite at the Rubens Hotel. Hundreds of people came for Baba’s darshan at an evening reception held in one of the hotel's function rooms.
From London, Baba flew to New York.
1956
Baba visited England for the last time in mid July, staying at the Rubens Hotel. During this visit He met with His brother Adi and wife Franey now living in London, Hilda Thorpe and her sons Anthony and Simon.
From London, Baba flew to New York.
>click here to download the PDF of a Suggested Pilgrimage around London
Please Note:
If you wish a more detailed and comprehensive account of Baba’s movements beyond London, the booklet – Meher Baba’s Visits to England - compiled by
Margaret Hickman – is available by post. Please email: mbaboard@meherbaba.co.uk.
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