Churchill Centre UK Notice Board

Bulletin #56 - Feb 2013

Churchill Centre UK Notice Board

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February 11, 2013

A recap of all of the recent events in the United Kingdom.

Debate. As advised in our last edition (November 2012), a debate was held at the London School of Economics on 21st November, at which the motion was that “WSC was more of a progressive than a reactionary”. The lead arguments were made by Lord Hurd of Westwell, Professor David Edgerton, Professor John Charmley and Dr Piers Brendon. Emma Soames and Randolph Churchill attended and a number of other TCC-UK members were also present. All the main speakers felt that there were aspects of both traits in WSC’s make-up, though in differing degrees: the consensus was that WSC was both a progressive and a reactionary. No vote was taken. THE LSE and TCC-UK are currently discussing plans to stage a second LSE Churchill Debate in November 2013.

Chartwell: Special Exhibition. Although the house itself is now closed for the winter, a temporary exhibition, exploring WSC’s transatlantic family heritage and how the two main branches of his ancestral family shaped him and his path in life, is now open. A wide range of objects, borrowed from the house and from private collections of family members, is now on show. Of the 50 items in the exhibition, called In the Blood, over half have never been previously seen on public display and have been brought together for this temporary event only. The exhibition is open daily from 11.00 am till 4.00 pm and closes on 24th February. Admission charge to the public is £6.50, but TCC-UK members will be admitted free on production of valid membership cards.

WSC Birthday Reception. This annual TCC-UK gathering will take place on Monday 25th February 2013 at the Hyatt Regency Churchill Hotel, 30 Portman Square, London W1. The evening will celebrate the refurbishment of the new Churchill bar, complete with a statue of WSC on the terrace, and the guest speaker will be journalist, author and broadcaster Ben Macintyre. He will give a short address on Churchill and the D-Day Deception. It is hoped to be able to offer a signed copy of each of Ben Macintyre’s three recent best-selling books (Double-Cross, Operation Mincemeat and Agent Zigzag) as three separate prizes in a free raffle to be drawn during the reception. Places can be reserved for £25 (members) or £30 (guests); a booking form is enclosed with this mailing. This event has been well attended over the past few years, and is an excellent opportunity to catch up with friends and to hear what is being planned within the Churchill world. To reserve your places, please complete and return the enclosed booking form to Noelle Caulfield (Membership Secretary).

My Darling Clemmie. In response to considerable demand, following her brilliant taster at the London conference in 2011, we are delighted to be able to announce that distinguished actress Rohan McCullough will be bringing her highly acclaimed one-woman show My Darling Clemmie to the stage at Churchill College, Cambridge on Tuesday 18th June (curtain-up is 7.00 pm). Ticket prices are £10 (members) or £15 (guests). To reserve your places, please complete and return the enclosed booking form to Noelle Caulfield (Membership Secretary).