To mark the centenary of the wedding, the Churchill Archives Centre has also created displays from their priceless raft of material for several planned events. The missing photos are also known to show presents to the happy couple from none other than King Edward VII – who gifted a gold-topped walking stick - and Prime Minister Herbert Asquith, who gave them the complete works of Jane Austen.Ĭlementine was widely acknowledged for her role in creating and maintaining a stable home environment for Winston as he learned to fly in 1913, fought in the trenches in 1916 and guided the United Kingdom through the darkest days of World War II. He later fired the resolve of the British public during our finest hour in World War II with his inspirational speeches, originals of which are held at Churchill Archives Centre in Cambridge.” The marriage seemed to catch the public imagination, with large crowds of Londoners assembling outside the church, including a gathering of Pearly Kings and Queens.Ĭhurchill Archives Centre Director Allen Packwood said “This is an early example of Churchill’s popularity in London, even as a junior minister. Guests who attended included future Prime Minister David Lloyd George, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Churchill’s cousin the Duke of Malborough, the best man Lord Hugh Cecil and William Joynson Hicks MP – who had narrowly defeated Churchill in the Manchester election earlier that year. Wherever they are, Righton’s photos are known to have captured images of the wedding guests and some notable presents, including gifts from the Royal Family Neither the Churchill family or the Archives Centre have been able to track them down. Recent research by author Tom Norgate has found that photographer John William Righton was definitely on hand to capture the Churchills’ wedding breakfast on September 12, 1908.īut the photos taken at 52 Portland Place in London, the home of Clementine’s great aunt Lady St Helier - and the venue for their wedding breakfast – seem to have disappeared. Now, the Churchill Archives Centre, based at Cambridge University’s Churchill College, has launched a fresh appeal for information about the photos of the Churchills’ wedding reception to coincide with centenary celebrations taking place both at home and abroad. It has become one of the most celebrated unions in 20th Century history and heads a list populated by other famous political marriages including Margaret and Denis Thatcher and Tony and Cherie Blair. The marriage produced five children, lasted more than 50 years and only ended with Sir Winston’s death in January 1965. Winston and Clementine were married at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster on September 12, 1908, after a very brief engagement announced that August. As the 100th anniversary of Winston Churchill’s marriage to Clementine Hozier beckons tomorrow, question marks remain over what happened to the photographic record of the couple’s happy day.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |