Page 29 - WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE DISCOVERING ENGLAND

museum photos courtesy Martin Roznowski LLC

Opposite page: Entrance
to the Churchill museum.
Opposite lower:
Churchill’s bedroom in
the war room complex.
He seldom slept here
except for freqent naps.
Left: One of the many
interactive exhibits .

wooden breakfast tray, silk bow tie—even recordings, reminisces from his friends and fine wines--and French Pol Roger champagne

his baby rattle and childhood toy soldiers. staff—and even from Churchill himself, with with lunch. No matter how busy he was, he
There are his school poetry, notebooks and his writings and radio broadcasts. took a daily nap and two daily baths.
letters, including one begging his rather dis- One black and white photo on display is of Not only was he a popular leader in wartime,
tant parents to come visit him more often his beloved nanny, Elizabeth Everest, who known for his energy, ambition, and intel-
at the boarding school where he was sent at died when he was 20. There’s even a June 27, ligence, but he was awarded the Nobel Prize
age 7, and was unhappy and lonely. There’s 1940, letter from his wife of 56 years, Clem- in 1953 and numerous other honors, includ-
even an entry dated May 5, 1891, from the entine: “My Darling—I hope you will forgive ing honorary U.S. citizenship (his mother was
Harrow School punishment book that the me if I tell you something that I feel you need American-born).
future prime minister, then 16, received
seven cane strokes for “breaking into prem- to know”—then she sweetly admonishes It was an eerie irony that Churchill predicted
him about the “deterioration” in the man-
ises and doing damage.” that he would die on the anniversary of his
ner he treats his colleagues. The couple ex-
father’s death—and he did, on January 24,
“I was what grown-up people in their offhand changed hundreds of letters, of which some 1965, aged 90. In one area of the museum
way called a ‘troublesome boy,’” he later said. 1700 survive. There are also letters from is a BBC clip of his state funeral, the British
King George VI on Buckingham Palace let-
royal family and other world leaders in atten-
It’s ironic that the creative, gifted, yet lonely terhead, including one dated May 31, 1944, dance, held at St. Paul’s Cathedral on January
youngster who received poor report cards, urging Churchill to reconsider his plan of 30, 1965. He was the first commoner to be
got into trouble now and then, and had a having both of them participate in the D- honored with a state funeral since 1898, and
stammer—trouble saying his “s’s,” which was Day landing: “I don’t think I need emphasize his was the first commoner funeral attended
a challenge later for his secretaries taking dic- what it would mean to me personally and to by a reigning monarch.
tation—became known as a world leader for the whole Allied cause, if at this juncture a
his electrifying speeches: “I have nothing to chance bomb, torpedo, or even a mini should If You Go
offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat,” he pro- remove you from the scene. . . .” The Churchill Museum and War Rooms
claimed in his first speech as Prime Minister The popular Prime Minister, who loved Ha-
on May 13, 1940. For information on visiting hours, lectures,
vana cigars, smoked about eight each day,
Special moments of his life are displayed here, having the first after breakfast. (He was said the gift shop, restaurant, and special
exhibits: cwr.iwm.org.uk/ -- www.visitbri-
allowing visitors to learn even more details to re-light and never inhale.) He also enjoyed tain.com -- www.visitengland.com
from family photo albums, intimate letters,

Winter 2014 winedineandtravel.com 29