He used his skill to build several garden walls at Chartwell

He was a competent brick layer, a member of the Amalgamated Guild of Building Trade Workers.

This forced him to earn money through journalism, speaking tours and writing – he penned several critically acclaimed history books

Despite being born into an aristocratic family, Churchill struggled for much of his life to maintain an income high enough to cover his extravagant spending.

On learning he was once again in charge, The Royal Navy simply signalled the fleet: “Winston is back”

Churchill served as First Lord of Admiralty twice, initially in the First World War and again during the second.

A committed imperialist, Churchill was strongly opposed to India’s independence from the British Empire, which led to a split with political colleagues.

It’s well known that Churchill liked a drink journalist and Tory peer Lord Deedes once suggested he asked for a dangerous front line post during the First World War because there was no alcohol allowed at his battalion’s HQ.

He also helped the Liberals pass ‘The People’s Budget’ that introduced new taxes on the wealthy to fund social welfare programmes.

He introduced the first minimum wage under Herbert Asquith’s Liberal government in 1908, which passed his Trade Boards Bill.

Ten facts you might not know about Churchill Many of Churchill's most famous speeches were written at Chartwell The journey is part of a programme of events planned to mark the 50 anniversary of Churchill’s death. Next Friday Churchill’s descendants will retrace the route of his funeral procession aboard the Havengore, sailing to Westminster where a wreath will be laid to commemorate his achievements.

“One of the main things about Chartwell is that in the years before the Second World War, when he was desperately trying to raise awareness of German rearmament and the threat the Third Reich posed to Europe, many of the speeches we know so well were composed in this very building.” “Chartwell was a place of comfort, a place of escape, but it was also where he did a large proportion of his work,' said Ms Barnett. People remember that because it meant more to everyone than anything else in the history of the nation.”Ĭhurchill’s body was taken by train from London to his final resting place at Bladon, near Blenheim, his birthplace and ancestral home. “People clearly understood that Churchill stood at the forefront of everything and decided there’s no way the Nazis are going to invade this country. Mr Millard said: “When the funeral procession came along it was spellbinding, in terms of what it meant to everybody. In the hall you could hear a pin drop, despite the thousands of people.”Ĭhurchill’s body lay in state at Westminster for three days before being taken down the river by the Havengore, a ceremonial vessel that spent much of its later life at Chatham Dockyard. “Two three days later I joined the vast queue that stretched across the Thames and waited seven hours before I finally got to Westminster. “People clearly understood that Churchill stood at the forefront of everything and decided there’s no way the Nazis are going to invade this country' - Tony Millard “When he died on January 24, almost immediately the press and the radio announced the fact and people started collecting outside his home, in Hyde Park Gate in London, where he had died.” Scroll down for video Sir Winston ChurchillĬhartwell volunteer Tony Millard, who is also a member of the Churchill Centre UK, watched Churchill's state funeral in 1965, alongside thousands of others wishing to pay their respects. Statesman, war leader, writer and artist, Winston Churchill has long held an almost reverential position in British society, credited with holding off the Nazis and defending our country’s way of life.Īs the 50 anniversary of his funeral approaches, Chartwell, Churchill’s beloved Kent home, is holding an exhibition commemorating the life, death and legacy of the man voted the ‘Greatest Ever Britain’.

On January 30, 1965, 350 million people across Europe watched the final journey of one of the most extraordinary prime ministers Britain has even seen.

When did winston churchill die