Churchill Centre and George Washington University Announce New Churchill Library and Center in Washington, D.C.
Laurence Geller, and GW's President, Steven Knapp The Churchill Centre and The George Washington University (GW) have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the creation of a new Churchill Library and Center on the GW campus in the heart of Washington, D.C. The Memorandum was executed at a signing ceremony at The Churchill Centre's headquarters in Chicago by its Chairman, Laurence S. Geller, and GW's President, Steven Knapp.
Mr. Geller noted that "undertaking this project with The George Washington University represents a milestone in the development of The Churchill Centre and of Churchill scholarship in America. The unique place that Winston Churchill holds in modern history as an icon of leadership and the respect his memory is accorded throughout the United States have long demanded the creation of a permanent home for Churchill studies, exhibitions and programs in our nation's capital." President Knapp added that "GW is delighted to be able to partner with The Churchill Centre in this worthwhile project which will bring an important new element to our campus and expand our already strong programs in modern history."
The planned $8 million facility, to be known as The National Churchill Library and Center at George Washington University, will encompass four elements: an extensive library of books and other materials by and about Churchill and his times; an endowed Chair in Churchill Studies in GW's History Department; an endowed Directorship of the Library and Center; and customized exhibition space for permanent and travelling displays about Churchill, his life and times. The Library and Center will be housed in dedicated street level space in GW's Gelman Library in the heart of the university campus in Washington's West End and will present a continuing range of lectures, seminars, programs and exhibits for scholars, students and visitors.
High Commissioner Helps Launch Churchill Society in Ottawa
British High Commisison, Ottawa, 02 December 2011—To mark the 137th anniversary of the former Prime Minister's birth, High Commissioner Andrew Pocock hosted the launch of the Sir Winston Churchill Society of Ottawa.
Held at Earnscliffe, the evening's keynote speaker was Allen Packwood, Director of the Churchill Archives Centre at the University of Cambridge. The title of his talk was "Why Bring Churchill Back to Canada?".
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Prior to the event, Mr Packwood filmed a short interview where he talked about Churchill's many Canadian connections and announced plans to bring pages of his well-known 1941 speech to a joint-session of the Canadian Parliament back to Canada for display in the near future.
The non-partisan Sir Winston Churchill Society of Ottawa plans to hold a number of events in the National Captial Region over the coming months. It joins a number of Churchill Socities across Canada, including the The Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy in Toronto.
Polo, Churchill, and Charity Come to Santa Rosa, California
Sir Winston Churchill would have enjoyed the scene at the Wine Country Polo Club in Santa Rosa, where polo teams played a charity match Saturday.
By STEVE HART
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT, 8 October 2011—"My grandfather would have loved to be here, watching a sport he loved so much," said Celia Sandys, granddaughter of the British wartime leader and statesman. Sandys, a Churchill historian and author, presented the trophy at the Winston S. Churchill and James S. Brady Courage Cup held at the club's Trione Field in Oakmont.
The event benefits a Bay Area horseback therapy program for children with autism, cerebral palsy and other developmental disorders.
This year, it partnered with The Churchill Centre, a London-based nonprofit dedicated to the statesman's work. Churchill was an avid polo player, winning the All—India Cup with his regimental team in the late 1890s.
Churchill played with one arm strapped to his side because he'd injured his shoulder getting off a ship, Sandys said.
He continued playing until he was in his 50s.
The charity match has been held for the past 26 years at the polo fields in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. It moved north this year when they weren't available, said Melba Meakin of Horses in California, the nonprofit that sponsors the match.
Santa Rosa philanthropist Henry Trione offered the Oakmont polo fields for free, she said.
"The horses like this field and the riders do too," Meakin said.
The event also pays tribute to James Brady, the former press secretary for President Ronald Reagan who was seriously wounded and permanently disabled in an assassination attempt on the president in 1981.
Brady is a supporter of equine therapy and agreed to lend his name to the match.
The Java Beach team from Menlo Polo Club won Saturday's match 7-4 over a team with players from the Santa Rosa and Sutter Buttes polo clubs.
Lady Soames Birthday Celebrated at Gala Party Aboard Ship in South of France
By D. Craig Horn
October 2011
To celebrate a birthday is to celebrate a life. Churchillians from around the world celebrated the birthday of Mary Soames, Winston Churchill's daughter, at Cannes, France, on September 15, 2011. Celia Sandys hosted a gala birthday party for Mary aboard ship during a spectacular tour to the South of France. Thirty Churchillians came together aboard the luxurious Seabourn Legend, September 9-16, for an incredible tour of many of the venues that Winston Churchill visited and painted. The tour was organized and produced by Celia Sandys and began in the port of Civitavecchia near Rome. The ship sailed to the intriguing Corsican village of Bonifacio and then on to ports across the Cote d'Azur, the French Riviera, Le Lavandou, Provence, Sanary-sur-Mer, Saint Raphael, Cannes and ended in spectacular Monte-Carlo, Monaco. In addition to Celia, we were joined by Allen Packwood and Minnie Churchill who gave interesting and insightful presentations along the way about Churchill, his adventures and his painting. One guest summarized the week as "one of the greatest weeks that I have ever had."
View more photos from the event here. The onboard party included tour guests from Canada, England, France and the United States of America and who were joined by the ship's Captain Andrew Pedder to raise a glass of champagne, Pol Roger of course, in honor of Mary. One of the night's many highlights was a special birthday cake, hand-fashioned in chocolate by the ship's pastry chef, into a beautiful cigar caddy inside of which were individual cakes, each in the shape of a Churchill-sized cigar. A special toast for the occasion was offered by Alan Packwood, Director of The Churchill Archives Centre at Churchill College in Cambridge, England.
Mary Paxson Resigns Her Position at The Churchill Centre
After nearly four years of dedicated service to The Churchill Centre, Mary Paxson will be leaving as our Director of Administration. Her last day was this past Friday June 10th. Mary has taken a new position with Harris Bank in Chicago as Project Analyst in their Community Affairs Department.
Mary's tireless commitment to the Centre will be dearly missed, but we of course wish her all the greatest success in her new position. Lee Pollock, TCC's Executive Director, noted "It has been a great pleasure working with Mary. The warmth and affection in which she is held by our members are testament to her dedication to our organization and the outstanding service she has provided."
In her letter of resignation, Mary said, "I would never have been considered for my new position if it were not for the three and a half years that I have spent at The Churchill Centre. The wealth of knowledge and many experiences will continue with me as I head into this next chapter of my life. Although I am blessed and excited to have been offered this opportunity, I am also very sad in my heart to leave TCC. "
