June 3, 2015

Finest Hour 101, Winter 1998-99

Page 10

BRITISH COLUMBIA

VANCOUVER, NOVEMBER 30TH— Leslie Strike, outgoing President of our esteemed colleagues, The Sir Winston S. Churchill Society of British Columbia, reports many successful 1998 events for the Society. March 6th: an “Evening with Churchill” addressed by the Hon. Jay Burns, United States Consul General, on the new role of NATO; May 19th: black tie dinner for Vice Chancellor of the University of Hull (U.K.) David Neville Dilks, who spoke on “Churchill, Eden and Canada”; November 30th: black tie dinner marking Sir Winston’s 124th birthday, addressed by Dr. John Mather on “Medical Myths and Truths.”

The Churchill Scholarship Foundation continues to receive donations under the able Chair of Stan Winfield. The student winner of the 1998 first prize was Mr. David Gossen. Anyone in B.C. who is not a member of the Society should join. The new President is Robert W. Gourlay, QC (address on page 2).

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ENGLAND: FINCHER COLLECTION TO BLETCHLEY

LONDON, DECEMBER 10TH— Finest Hour has presented the late Robert Fincher’s Churchill stamp collection to the International Churchill Society of the UK, for display at the Churchill Rooms, Bletchley Park—the wartime code-breaking centre where Jack Darrah has created his marvellous Churchilliana display (see FH 91, p. 18). Mr. Fincher presented the stamps to FH in 1989, asking us to use them where they would best advance interest in Sir Winston. In 1992, key pages were published in Finest Hour 77.

The collection was appraised on behalf of ICS/UK by prominent philatelist Celwyn Ball, former President of ICS, Canada. Fincher’s specialty was what philatelists call “forerunners”—stamps depicting Churchill issued before Sir Winston’s death, after which numerous commemoratives appeared. His detailed study of the 1945 Colombia “Big Three” overprints is the standard work on this subject. Members visiting Bletchley should not fail to have a look. Or, obtain a copy of Finest Hour 77 from your local Society or Churchill Stores.

WASHINGTON SOCIETY IS CC AFFILIATE

WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER 25TH— The Washington Society for Churchill (WSC) became the first Affiliate of The Churchill Center by unanimous vote of the CC Board of Governors. CC Affiliates are organizations whose aims are substantially the same as the Center, but do not include the International Churchill Societies of Canada or the UK, which are independent associated organizations. The Washington Society, founded five years ago, is one of the largest groups meeting regularly, with a broad array of activities, student programs, and support for major Churchill conferences—both Washington ’93, and Williamsburg ’98, which it hosted. Speakers have included Jack Kemp, Caspar Weinberger, Williamson Murray and members of the CC Board of Governors. The Society has also hosted Edwina and Celia Sandys, and assisted at Churchill Center symposia held in Washington in 1994 and 1996. Members in the District of Columbia and the surrounding tri-state area wishing to be aware of upcoming WSC events may contact the Society (address on page 2).

TENNESSEE

COOKEVILLE, TENN., MARCH 31ST— CC member John David Marshall gave the 1998 Phi Kappa Phi Lecture at Tennessee Technological University today: “The Churchill Wit.” Marshall is professor emeritus, Todd Library, Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.

NORTH TEXAS

DALLAS, SEPTEMBER 19TH— Twenty-two members and guests met at the Dallas International Cultural and Social Circle Club for a wine and cheese social before a presentation by Nathan Hughes, whose topic was a critique of Brian Walden’s “Churchill as a Hero,” shown on BBC television last year. (See FH 97, p. 33.) Walden considered that Churchill was a hero because he gave the war meaning and moral greatness, and that Britain’s stand from the time of Dunkirk to Pearl Harbor ensured the survival of human rights. But Walden was critical of Churchill’s early life and considered him an old-fashioned, blimpish reactionary. These views were refuted by a number of those present and an interesting discussion ensued. For latest on North Texas activities contact Nathan Hughes, 1117 Shadyglen Circle, Richardson TX 750813720, tel. (972) 235-3208.

NORTHERN OHIO

CLEVELAND, NOVEMBER 3RD— Northern Ohio members gathered at the Greenbrier Suite, where Marshall Wright spoke on “Winston Churchill and Jacky Fisher at the Admiralty.” Members were offered sumptuous fare by the Wall Street Deli.

If you live in or near Cleveland, contact our Northern Ohio friends to be placed on the mailing list. Telephone Alexis at (216) 781-1212 or write Michael McMenamin, Walter & Haverfield, 1300 Terminal Tower, Cleveland, OH 44113.

1999 UK ARCHIVES EXHIBITIONS

• May-July 1999: “Churchill and Horseracing” exhibit, National Museum of Horseracing, Newmarket, Suffolk. This small display focuses on Winston Churchill’s ownership, late in his life, of racehorses such as “Colonist II” and “Pol Roger.” It is hoped to complement material from the Churchill Archives Centre with a number of artifacts.

• June-October 1999: “Churchill: The Evidence,” a large cradle-to-grave exhibition at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh. This display will use original documents and photographs from the Churchill Archives Centre to tell the story of Churchill’s long life and career, but will highlight his Scottish connections: his long tenure as MP for Dundee, his command of a Scottish battalion during WW1, and his acceptance of the Freedom of Edinburgh in 1942.

• November and December 1999: “Churchill and the Boer War,” a display at the Empire and Commonwealth Museum, Bristol, marking the centenary of Churchill’s celebrated capture and escape. Members visiting England at that time could combine a visit to the Newmarket display with a trip to us here at the Churchill Archives Centre. We would be delighted to entertain you and show you some more of our treasures.

-Allen Packwood, Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge CB3 0DS, tel. (01223) 336087.