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PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 20 JANUARY 2015
Churchill 2015: Major International Celebration Begins In Order To Commemorate the Life and Legacy of Sir Winston Churchill Fifty Years After His Death • • •
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The Houses of Parliament to host a remembrance service and wreath laying ceremony, and a speech by Mr Speaker Brand new Churchill Central website launched to further advance his living legacy for future generations The Havengore vessel, which carried the coffin of Sir Winston, to retrace its journey down the Thames, conjuring the mesmerising spirit of his State funeral Global Leadership Programme launched in a fitting tribute to Churchill’s memory to address global strategic issues with a focus on the leaders of tomorrow Unique Churchill’s Scientists exhibition to open at the Science Museum, uncovering the story of Churchill’s fascination with science Special ceremony to take place at Westminster Abbey with readings from Sir David Cannadine and The Hon. Celia Sandys on behalf of the Churchill family The English-‐Speaking Union to run its flagship competition The ESU-‐ Churchill National Public Speaking Competition for Schools, involving nearly 400 schools across England & Wales, and culminating in the National Final at Churchill College, Cambridge in April 2015
Organisations and institutions around the world have come together to present Churchill 2015, a unique celebration of the life and legacy of Sir Winston Churchill, fifty years after his death, sixty years after his final resignation as prime minister, and seventy five years after his ‘finest hour’ leading the fight against fascism in 1940.
During a press conference this morning at the Churchill War Rooms, Sir David Cannadine announced a host of educational and cultural activity set to take place throughout the year to commemorate Churchill’s achievements, to highlight his vibrant existing legacy, to promote a range of educational opportunities and to bring his life and work to new audiences. The Prime Minister, the Right Hon David Cameron, said: “Half a century after his death, Winston Churchill’s legacy continues to inspire not only the nation whose liberty he saved, but the entire world. His words and his actions reverberate through our national life today. 2015 is a year to remember Winston Churchill’s extraordinary life of achievement, to admire and to celebrate it anew and to give thanks for his service not only to the country he loved, but to humanity as a whole.” Sir David Cannadine, pre-‐eminent historian and Chairman of the Churchill 2015 Executive Committee said: “I am delighted that such a broad range of events and activities will be taking place around the world to mark and commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Winston Churchill. This varied and exciting programme will not only remind us what an extraordinary figure he was, and what a remarkable life he lived, but it will also demonstrate Churchill's lasting and exceptional legacy, in the belief that future generations will recognise and be inspired by one of the greatest figures this country has ever produced.” Emma Soames, granddaughter of Winston Churchill and speaking at the press conference on behalf of the Churchill family, said: "To me growing up he was a grandfather, but I came to realise at his death that he was so much more than that. The family are absolutely delighted that his life is being celebrated and his legacy expanded." Churchill Central Underpinning all activity is a brand new Churchill Central website, developed by Bloomsbury Publishing and funded by the Churchill Centre (UK). This is a unique resource featuring content that informs, inspires and invites dialogue, delivered with compelling interactive features and exciting, innovative design. Users can learn about the different stages in Churchill’s life, from childhood through to his later years, and can explore themes based on aspects of his character. A unique timeline allows users to navigate their way through all the key years in his long and varied life as well events and developments taking place elsewhere in the world. It also acts as a portal to the Churchill world and as the vehicle for delivering Churchill 2015 programmes. www.churchillcentral.com Churchill 2015 sets out three main themes: Commemoration, Education and Legacy. Commemoration In order to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Sir Winston Churchill’s state funeral, a series of events will take place on Friday 30th January, as part of Churchill 2015.
In the morning, the Houses of Parliament will host a remembrance service and wreath laying ceremony, in recognition of Churchill’s outstanding contribution to Parliament. Speeches will be delivered by Mr Speaker, accompanied by a reading by Nathania Ewruje, Best Speaker in the English-‐Speaking Union’s National Public Speaking Competition for Schools 2014 and subsequent winner of the ESU’s inaugural Winston Churchill Cup for Public Speaking. The Havengore vessel, which carried the coffin of Sir Winston, will retrace its journey down the Thames, taking the same route at the same time of day as 50 years previously. Forming part of a small flotilla, the Havengore will pass under Tower Bridge, which will be raised in honour of Sir Winston at 12.45, continuing its journey past HMS Belfast, under Blackfriars Bridge and Waterloo Bridge, passing the London Eye and culminating in a special service and wreath laying in the waters directly opposite the Palace of Westminster at 13.15. In echoes of the original river procession, the Havengore will feature crew in ceremonial bright blue and red uniforms and two Scottish pipers standing in the bows to play the pipes. The on-‐board party will include members of the Churchill family and others who were closely connected with the State Funeral and the event provides a fitting yet highly visible public tribute to Winston Churchill. In the evening a special ceremony will take place at Westminster Abbey with readings from Sir David Cannadine and The Hon. Celia Sandys on behalf of the Churchill family. In front of an audience of well wishers from the worlds of history, politics and literature, and the sites, charities and organisations established in Sir Winston’s name, flowers will be laid at his green marble memorial stone, which was unveiled by The Queen on 19th September 1965. In York, a special tribute will see the National Railway Museum reuniting 34051 Winston Churchill, the locomotive which pulled the funeral train, with the baggage van that was used to transport Churchill’s coffin and the luxurious Pullman carriage that carried family and funeral guests. This will be the first time since the funeral that the three vehicles have been seen together and marks the opening of the museum’s Churchill’s Final Journey exhibition, which features archive TV footage from 30th January 1965. Other activity includes the launch of new commemorative coins by The Royal Mint, as Sir Winston becomes the only statesman in British history to have two UK coins created in his honour. His great grandson, Randolph Churchill, visited The Royal Mint on Thursday 15th January to strike one of the solid silver £20 coins released to mark the 50 year anniversary of Sir Winston Churchill’s death. Stamp collections will be issued by the Isle of Man Post Office, Guernsey and Jersey. Royal Mail has already brought out a Churchill stamp as part of a series on Prime Ministers. Education To engage the nation and inspire the next generation, a host of exhibitions and events will take place as part of Churchill 2015.
Beginning the year-‐long celebration, the Science Museum’s ‘Churchill’s Scientists’ exhibition will open on Friday 23rd January, telling the little-‐known story of how Churchill’s fascination with science led to the scientific achievements that helped Britain win the Second World War. The incredible events that took place will be brought to life through a rich array of significant historical objects, original film footage, letters and archive images and the exhibition will feature a number of personal objects belonging to Churchill. In the UK, other exhibitions include Death of a Hero at Sir Winston’s family home of Chartwell, now cared for by the National Trust, featuring a number of never-‐before-‐seen-‐items from personal family mementoes to commemorative gifts and the reinvigorated Churchill Exhibition and new memorial garden at his birthplace Blenheim Palace, both celebrating the life and times of Sir Winston Churchill. Internationally, the Musée de l’Armée in Paris opens its Churchill–de Gaulle exhibition in April, exploring the relationship between these two great figures while the National Churchill Museum in Fulton, Missouri is set to announce its 2015 Churchill Weekend, featuring a series of lectures in the Church of St. Mary. The exhibitions have been supported by materials from Churchill’s own personal papers at the Churchill Archives Centre. Lectures will be delivered across the country including a series by The University of Bristol which features key historians and members of the Churchill family. The Churchill Centre (UK) will host the 32nd International Churchill conference from 26-‐29th May. Legacy To ensure that Churchill’s extraordinary legacy and values are passed on to successive generations, Churchill organisations will deliver new and enhanced programmes focusing on leadership, debate and public speaking. The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, established in 1965 as Sir Winston's national memorial and living legacy, awards Churchill Fellowships to individuals from throughout the UK to enable them to travel to different parts of the world in pursuit of new and better ways of tackling a wide range of social, educational, environmental, medical and scientific issues, and bringing back new approaches and solutions to the UK. To celebrate its own 50th anniversary it is increasing the number of its annual awards by an additional 50 to 150, investing at least £1.34m in British citizens. To complement this increase and to provide a fitting tribute to Churchill's achievements as a world statesman it is also helping to deliver the Global Leadership Programme (Patron – Sir John Major). This will focus on 21st Century Statesmanship, addressing top-‐level global strategic issues and working with the leaders of tomorrow. The programme will feature a series of
international panel events, culminating with a seminar hosted by Lord (George) Robertson (former Secretary General of NATO) in the Autumn. In recognition of Churchill’s masterful oratory, the English-‐Speaking Union’s annual Churchill National Public Speaking Competition for Schools provides the opportunity for young people to develop the skills of effective spoken English and reaches its UK final in April at Churchill College, Cambridge. Meanwhile Blenheim Palace will deliver its third Sir Winston Churchill Public Speaking Competition, in partnership with Churchill Centre UK, with the final taking place in March. The brand new Churchill Central website provides up to date information on all Churchill 2015 events and activity, whilst also serving as a unique and enduring online legacy. Churchill 2015 is being led by an alliance of charities, institutions and organisations with an interest in the life or legacy of Sir Winston Churchill. Current partners include: o The Churchill Centre (UK) o The Churchill Centre (US) o The English-‐Speaking Union o The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust o The Benefice Of Blenheim And Bladon o Blenheim Palace o Bloomsbury Publishing o Chartwell, National Trust o The Churchill Archives Centre, Cambridge o Churchill College, Cambridge o The Churchill Family & Curtis Brown (London) o Churchill Society For The Advancement Of Parliamentary Democracy o Churchill War Rooms, part of Imperial War Museums o The Estate Of Yousuf Karsh o The Havengore, London o Hillsdale College, Michigan o Historial Charles De Gaulle, Musée de l’Armée, Paris o Hodder & Stoughton, publishers of The Churchill Factor by Boris Johnson o The Houses of Parliament o The International Churchill Society (Canada) o National Churchill Library And Center, George Washington University o The National Churchill Museum, Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri o The National Railway Museum, York o The Pentland Group o The Royal Mint o The Science Museum, London o The Sir Winston Churchill Archive Trust o The University Of Bristol o The University Of Essex o The Winston Churchill Foundation Of The United States
For a full list of events and activity taking place throughout the year visit: www.churchillcentral.com For interviews and further press information please contact: Anna Highet annahighet@hotmail.com 07970 543867