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Sir Winston Churchill's letters to Lady Churchill, 1935-01 - 1935-04, 1935-09 - 1935-12

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0014/CSCT 2/25

Scope and Contents

Mainly "Chartwell Bulletins" [while Clementine was on a cruise aboard the Rosaura, to the Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia], on subjects including: work at Chartwell [Kent], particularly the use of the mechanical digger in the grounds and garden, work on the lake and island, and the installation of additional bookcases in Churchill's bedroom and the drawing room; progress of his film script for Sir Alexander Korda on the Silver Jubilee of King George V; the India Bill, family finances; the health of Mrs "Donkey Jack" [a local gypsy]; progress with Volume III of the biography of 1st Duke of Marlborough and Churchill's admiration for him; the cottages at Chartwell; Randolph Churchill's election campaigns in Wavertree, Liverpool and in Norwood [London]; the death of Churchill's aunt Clara Frewen [earlier Clara Jerome]; giving a lecture on Marlborough at Aldershot [Hampshire], February 1935; the progress of Diana Churchill [later Diana Bailey and Diana Sandys] and Mary Churchill [later Mary Soames] being hunting mad and having whooping cough; the effect of Randolph's activities on Churchill's own constituency in Epping [Essex] and an argument between them; Chartwell livestock, particularly the black swans and family pets; the rejection of the Government's plan for Indian federation by the Indian princes and Churchill's view of the ineffectiveness of the Government; work on the swimming pool at Chartwell; pacifism and the Government's realisation of the threat from Germany; Churchill's fears of a second World War; plans for a second film with Korda on the conquest of the air; the departure of the cook; likely changes to the Cabinet; Randolph developing jaundice; German air strength and the Government's misleading statements about it; heart trouble suffered by [Robert] Anthony Eden [later 1st Lord Avon]; changes to Churchill's speaking style; the fears of 1st Lord Rothermere [earlier Harold Harmsworth] about Germany; movements against Sir John Simon, Foreign Secretary; Churchill's suggestion that Clementine might publish her letters from the Rosaura; a stay with Maxine Elliott in the south of France, September 1935; the determination of Stanley Baldwin [Prime Minister] not to go to war; the improvement in Churchill's painting, thanks to [?] William Nicholson; the death of "the Louisiana Dictator" [Huey Long]; the high gambling of "Horeb Elisha" [Leslie Hore-Belisha]; a row over the publication of 1st Lord Haig's diaries; a trip to Morocco, December 1935; Churchill's doubts about Eden becoming Foreign Secretary instead of Sir [Joseph] Austen Chamberlain; a bet between Randolph and Lord Rothermere that Randolph would stay teetotal for the whole of 1936, and a similar bet that Churchill would not drink any brandy or undiluted spirits; painting in Marrakech; the dangers of Britain's obligations in Europe.

Dates

  • Creation: 1935-01 - 1935-04
  • Creation: 1935-09 - 1935-12

Conditions Governing Access

From the Fonds:

With the exception of the staff wages books in CSCT 9/1, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge.

Extent

2 file(s)

Language of Materials

English

Former / Other Reference

WSC/C/35

Related Materials

See also photographs of the digger at work at CSCT 2/52.

Finding aid date

2004-03-31 10:29:30.293000+00:00

Repository Details

Part of the Churchill Archives Centre Repository

Contact:
Churchill Archives Centre
Churchill College
Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB3 0DS United Kingdom
+44 (0)1223 336087