Charlie Chaplin

In February 1931, Charlie Chaplin disembarked from the Mauretania in Plymouth and , at some point, was the guest of Nancy Astor at the Astor's residence at Elliot Terrace on the Hoe. The photo shows some of the other guests who were there at the same time including Amy Johnson and George Bernard Shaw.

The Times Newspaper covered the story and reported on the 20th February 1931:

Mr Charles Chaplin arrived in this country yesterday for the London opening at The Dominion Theatre of City Lights. The Mauretania, with which he had come from New York, dropped anchor in Plymouth Sound, just as day was breaking. A few hours later, Mr Chaplin was welcomed ashore by a swarm of admirers.

It went on to report:
For another hour, the observation-car, which the Great Western Railway Company had placed at the comedian's disposal on the boat-train to Paddington, was surrounded by hero worshippers and during that time nobody with the courage to thrust their head into the carriage was sent away empty handed.

Some people asked him for autographs while others just wanted to pass the time of day. He was said to be full of joy and polite to all that he met but as the carriage moved away and the cheers from his fans died away, his mood changed completely as his optimism turned to talk of economics. He was cheered up by the arrival of a tin of Devonshire Cream.
The train arrived at Paddington later that day and people turned out in their thousands to see him. He climbed onto the roof of the car that met him and waved enthusiastically to the crowd. He was given a police escort to the Carlton Hotel and he announced that he would be on holiday for the next 4 months and may even travel to Europe.
There's no mention in the newspaper report when Chaplin stayed with Nancy Astor but he was in the city again on the night of 16th November, 1931 when he wandered onto the stage of the Palace Theatre in Union Street to much applause.