Chartwell opens new exhibition commemorating the life and legacy of Sir Winston Churchill, November 2014
Published: 00:00, 12 November 2014
Updated: 14:41, 12 November 2014
An exhibition this weekend commemorates the life and legacy of Sir Winston Churchill.
Death of a Hero, at Sir Winston’s former home – Chartwell, starts on Saturday, November 15, and looks at the passing and impact of the wartime leader ahead of the 50th anniversary of his death in 2015.
It provides an emotive look at the reaction to Churchill’s death, and includes never-seen-before objects, letters and mementoes.
Chartwell’s Katherine Barnett said: “Churchill is one of the most universally admired public figures in history. Death of a Hero aims to do justice to this great man, whose passing was marked with a state funeral watched by over 300 million people around the world. His influence and impact is wide reaching and it can still be seen in literature, art, public speaking and politics today.”
Death of a Hero will have five main themes including Churchill’s passing, the aftermath, the funeral, his legacy and remembering Churchill.
Each section will include never before seen items such as, a commemorative painting of the procession by Wilfred Morden depicting the boat that carried Churchill’s coffin up the Thames, which has been in store for almost half a century.
The spurs gifted by Clementine Churchill to the Duke of Norfolk as a thank you for organising the funeral will also appear, as well as personal family mementoes, the thoughts of our current Prime Minister, David Cameron, and the flag - named ‘Old Glory’ - that was flown at half-mast in Washington on the day he died.
Katherine Barnett adds: “It is the enormous sense of loss, and yet pride, felt around the world that this exhibition captures, illustrating how in the words of Lady Churchill, 'it wasn’t a funeral – it was a triumph.'”
The exhibition will be open daily from 11am to 3pm until Sunday, February 22, excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Entry costs £6.90 for adults, £3.45 for children and £17.25 for families.
Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell
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Jo Roberts