My last column about the Seattle visit of the grandson of Winston Churchill (Nov. 8) generated so much interest and so many questions about the Churchill Center that my esteemed editor decided to reprint an updated version of my column of Dec. 17, 2003, which will answer many of your questions.
You may well ask, "What are Churchillians?" No, they are not exotic, furry animals; they do not live in trees or in burrows under the ground in South America or on mountains in far-off Peru. Churchillians are members of an international organization dedicated to keeping alive the memory of Winston Churchill. There are centers in the United Kingdom and the United States. The Churchill Centre is one part of three of an international foundation. Originally the International Churchill Society, it is now known as The Churchill Centre (U.S.), International Churchill Society-Canada and International Churchill Society-UK, with members in Japan, Australia, Europe and South America.
In 2003, the Churchill Centre established an office in Washington, D.C. It is sustained by an endowment fund earning interest in the United States and Canada; these earnings guarantee that the Churchill Centre will endure as a powerful voice, sustaining beliefs Sir Winston held dear.
There is a dedicated Churchillian of 13 years standing living in Magnolia, Jonathan Hayes. He is also a longtime member of the English Speaking Union. The ESU has worked with the Churchill foundation on scholarship programs in the past. In fact, there was a Churchillian program in Seattle in 2002 which Hayes attended, representing the ESU.
In late September 2003, I had a communication from the ESU Desert Branch (Palm Springs, Calif.) about an upcoming event presented by the Southern California Churchillians to commemorate Sir Winston Chur-chill's 129th birthday. The invitation was intriguing: a black-tie dinner aboard the Queen Mary, and a talk by the Honorable Celia Sandys on her latest book, "Chasing Churchill," and memories of birthdays spent with her grandfather, Winston.
I called Jerry and Judy, the Southern California Churchillians, for more information and details on Celia's book and had a great time chatting with them and comparing Churchill stories. I was delighted a few weeks later to receive a call from Celia Sandys. I had hoped she would be able to speak at one of the upcoming ESU events, a thoroughly delightful lady.
Her book was of great interest, especially the chapter of a party aboard Aristotle Onassis' yacht The Christina with Maria Callas, the famous opera singer. In 2004 Sandys conducted a speaking tour in the United States concerning leadership.
On a personal note, I am no stranger to Churchill; my father worked with him during the war, and my late husband and I did a special hourlong tribute to Winston Churchill on our radio show, The British Hour. Churchill was also featured in "Blenheim Palace," part of my Stately Home radio series. I am also very well aware of the date, Nov. 30. On Wednesday, Nov. 30, 1994 - the actual day of the publication of the Queen Anne News and the birthday of the editor at the time, Jack Arends - I did a column on the life of Winston Churchill.
Jonathan Hayes advised me there are other Churchillians in Seattle and Bellevue, across the Puget Sound and in Oregon, as well as a center in Vancouver, B.C. The members keep in touch via the Internet. They publish a quarterly communication that is not just the newsletter but a veritable glossy magazine containing fascinating articles - for example, an article about Churchill's connection with Lawrence in Arabia. They hold annual international conferences in exotic places; the next one will be in Bermuda in November.
Churchill would be pleased that modern technology can combine with ancient and modern history. And to quote the great man, "History will be kind to me because I shall write it!" And he did - not only write it, but make it, this man who mobilized the English language and sent it into battle, and has followers and admirers all over the world in keeping alive the memory of Sir Winston Churchill, politician, statesman, soldier, author, artist and much more. Indeed, in a BBC poll late in 2003, Winston Churchill was voted greatest Briton ever.
In writing this, it seems I have been a Churchillian all my life, growing up with his inspiring speeches during World War II, following his career, and the special relationship between Britain and the United States, I think it is time that I sent him my dues and became an official member of the Churchillian Centre. How about you?
The most local branch of the Churchillians is the Vancouver Branch (Chris and Dorothy Hebb), The Rt. Hon. Sir Winston Spencer Churchill Society, Suite 1700, 1111 W. Georgia St., Vancouver, B.C. V6E 4M3, phone 604-209-6400 or e-mail cavell_capital@telus.net
For further information you can give me a call or visit the Internet at www.winstonchurchill.org
