On Aug 22, 4:14 pm, "Stan A. Orchard" <[email protected]> wrote: > I can't check the details right at this moment, but all this discussion > about the younger generation brings to mind a story about a child who > allegedly confronted Churchill in the garden at Chartwell and asked > something like, "Are you the greatest Englishman?", to which Churchill > replied, "Yes I am. Now bugger off."
Stan, for your and the group's amusement...By the way, Lady Soames later told me the boy was her son Nicholas, which identifies his dad also. House of Commons Churchill Dinner, 2 June 1990 Editor’s maiden (and only) speech; Finest Hour 67, 2nd Quarter 1990 I was honored to be asked to speak within these walls, something I could have never have imagined. And I’m aware that such honors are fleeting, remembering the time Churchill was shooting pheasants on the estate of the old Duke of Westminster. "How many did you shoot?" the Duke asked him. "Four," he replied. "Indeed," said the Duke, "then you've shot enough, and I will have your carriage ordered for tomorrow morning." So before my carriage is summoned.....(long report on Churchill Society activities followed)..... I am always amazed at the numbers of young people who join us, who have so soon come to know him either through his writings or by the endless stories about him. One of these, only 18 years of age, told me recently what first got him interested. (So many of these stories are apocryphal; perhaps Lady Soames will tell us if it's true.) A schoolboy at Chartwell, eluding all security, found himself in Sir Winston's bedroom, the occupant propped up, riffling through the morning papers and smoking an enormous cigar. "My dad says you're the greatest man in the world," offered the boy. "Is it true?" Sir Winston peered at him over his spectacles and said, "Of course—now buzz off." Now I am told that in fact he used a rather more earthy phrase than that. But in deference to my surroundings I have done a little editing. P.S.: Lady Soames tells me it's true. He certainly was the greatest man in the world for the longest time, and his truth, in the words of the American hymn he loved, goes marching on. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "ChurchillChat" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/churchillchat?hl=en.
