Photos

Possibly the earliest surviving photograph of Freda Swain.
Possibly the earliest surviving photograph of Freda Swain.
An early photograph showing a young Freda Swain.
An early photograph showing a young Freda Swain.
Freda in Brent (Greywinds), circa 1931, possibly holding a kitten.
“Freda. Brent (Greywinds) circa 1931” – It is not entirely clear what Freda is holding in her hand here, possibly a small kitten.
Freda in Brent, Greywinds, 1935.
“Freda, Brent, Greywinds [house name?], 1935.”
Brent, about 1935.
“Me – Brent, about 1935.”
Photograph with no accompanying description.
Freda Swain with a cat, relaxed and affectionate.
“I beg that you will not show this to anyone – as it is a fearful [tearful?] suety thing of me. I only enclose it because of Flanny [?]. Also you will see I am wearing the bracelet!”
“The above remarks were made to Stella, to whom I lent the photo. It was a lovely cat.”
A very successful photograph showing a relaxed Freda, once again reflecting her love of cats.
Photograph with no accompanying description.
Small-format photograph with no accompanying description.
Photograph titled 'Lot’s wife'.
“Lot’s wife.” Freda’s quirky sense of humour shines through in her description of this photograph. She appears rooted to the spot and extremely stiff; her stern gaze is also a familiar feature in many other photographs.
Small-format photograph with no accompanying description.
Photograph with no accompanying description.
Photograph with no accompanying description.
Group photograph including Freda Swain, possibly Stella, and Arthur Alexander.
Freda is seated on the left side of the picture. In the centre could be Stella, her sister, with Arthur Alexander to her right.
Group photograph with Freda Swain in the foreground and Arthur Alexander third from the left.
Freda is positioned in the foreground, her gaze directed towards the camera, while Arthur Alexander is positioned third from the left. The remaining individuals have not been identified.
Group photograph identical to the previous image.
Same as the photograph above.
Photograph with a difficult-to-read inscription, possibly referring to a lodge and location.
The inscription on the back of this photograph is very difficult to read and could mean: “Freda. [Hay, Hey or Hoy?] Lodge, Butler’s Gap?”
Group photograph from the South Africa trip, Durban, 12 January 1941.
“Durban 12.1.41.”
Arthur Alexander left England in 1939 for an extended concert and teaching tour in South Africa; when war broke out, he remained abroad. Freda Swain later travelled to join him and performed in Cape Town on 6 March 1941 with her husband conducting. This photograph was taken during that journey, which later led on to Australia and New Zealand. Freda is visible at the extreme left of the photograph, with Arthur Alexander positioned at the back left; the other individuals have not been identified.
Arthur Alexander and Freda Swain at a table, likely Cape Town, circa 1941.
Arthur Alexander is positioned on the left of the image, with Freda situated adjacent to him. The other two people at the table are unknown. A stamp on the reverse from Photo Hausmann suggests the photograph was taken at the Del Monico Restaurant in Cape Town, likely in 1941.
Arthur Alexander and Freda Swain with an unidentified couple, most likely South Africa, 1941.
Arthur Alexander is positioned to the left, with Freda situated adjacent to him. The other couple remains unidentified. The photograph was most likely taken in South Africa in 1941.
Arthur Alexander, Freda Swain, and an unidentified couple during overseas travel.
From left to right: Arthur Alexander, Freda Swain, and an unknown couple. This photograph was most likely taken during the extensive journey through South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Freda Swain with her husband, Arthur Alexander.
Freda and her husband Arthur Alexander.
Freda and Miss Bell with several cats, annotated on the back of the photograph.
In pencil: “Boofy [cat] in the foreground. Timmydoo [cat] on knee. Skinniett [cat] looking sinister on right + Limpy almost obbliterated by her.”
In pen: “Freda & Miss Bell (Coltes[?]). Brent.”
Photograph with no accompanying description.
Photograph with no accompanying description.
Photograph possibly taken at a NEMO concert organised by Freda Swain.
This photograph could have been taken during one of the NEMO concerts organised by Freda Swain. These concerts served the entirely altruistic purpose of bringing together composers and young, up-and-coming performers with established musicians.
Photograph with no accompanying description.
Photograph with no accompanying description.
Photograph with no accompanying description.
Photograph with no accompanying description.
Freda Swain in the foreground with an unidentified man; other individuals unknown.
Freda is positioned in the foreground on the right-hand side, accompanied by an unidentified male figure. The other individuals depicted in the photograph are also not known.
Photograph with no accompanying description.
Freda Swain at the piano, relaxed and smiling, with a painted portrait detail above her hands.
What a fantastic photo of Freda! For once, she looks completely relaxed and happy — a very likeable older lady at the piano. The photo is brilliantly composed: above her hands on the piano, you can see the hands of another person on an oil painting. These belong to Freda too, and are part of a very expressive portrait of her painted by Elizabeth Polunin (1887–1950), who worked for Sergei Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes, among others.

I would like to thank George Burrows Professor of Music and Theatre Associate Dean for Research and Innovation Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries University of Portsmouth for his invaluable help in deciphering the comments on the photos.