chartwell bulletin #34 apr 2011
TRANSCRIPT
CHARTWELL BULLETIN
The monthly newsletter of the Churchill Centre and Museum at the Churchill
War Rooms, London
United Kingdom
Churchill War Rooms
Clive Steps
King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AQ
T: 44-020-7930-6961
United States
200 W. Madison Street
Suite 1700
Chicago, Illinois 60606
1-888-WSC-1874
T: 1-312-658-6088
F: 1-312-658-5799
©2011 The Churchill Centre and Museum - All Rights Reserved
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Bulletin #34 - Apr 2011
Churchill Centre Ties
Ben Silver of Charleston produces the official
Churchill Centre logo tie in both red and blue,
and in regular four-in-hand and bow tie
configurations. During our recent conference, we
ran a special sale and sold out of our inventory
of all ties. We are now considering re-stocking a
variety of ties but before placing our order, we
need an indication of interest. They are custom
made just for us and are of the same quality as
all Ben Silver merchandise, but at a discounted
price. Please email Mary Paxson
[email protected] by May 1, 2011, if
you would be interested in purchasing one or more ties. From the time we
place our order with Ben Silver, it will take between 8 and 12 weeks to get
them in stock.
Regular (four-in-hand) ties in red or blue - $65; retail value, $100
Bow ties (untied), red or blue - $55; retail value $82
Bow ties (pre-tied), red or blue - $55; (not offered by Ben Silver)
"Churchill polka dot" blue bow ties (untied) - $60
Bulletin #34 - Apr 2011
Churchill Inspires Young Speakers
Youth to Practice Oratory Skills
Editor's Note: Kieran Wilson is currenlty the youngest member of The
Churchill Centre. Since joining The Churchill Centre and having delivered a
birthday toast to Lady Soames at the age of 11, Kieran, now 15, has continued
to hone his own oratory skills while mentoring other youth. Kieran is
currently in grade 10 at Esquimalt High School in Victoria B.C, Canada and is
the new Youth and Education Chair of the Sir Winston Churchill Society of
Vancouver Island.
By Erin McCracken
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OAK BAY NEWS, 7 April 2011 - At 15 years old, Kieran Wilson might be forgiven
if he didn't know who Sir Winston Churchill was.
But he not only knows most everything
about the Second World War era British
prime minister, he models some of his
public-speaking abilities after him. He
also hopes to one day enter politics.
"Winston Churchill was definitely one of
the great statesmen of the modern age,"
the Grade 10 Esquimalt High student said.
"I think he's quite the role model."
The Fairfield resident believes youth can
learn a lot from Churchill. That's the reason why, at age 11, he joined the
Sir Winston Churchill Society of Vancouver Island and continues to be the
international group's youngest member.
His passion for the great orator has prompted him to organize the first
Impromptu Speaking Youth Competition on Saturday (April 9) in his role as
chair of his society's youth and education committee.
Teens aged 14 to 17 from all schools were invited to participate, but won't
be required to know about the late Brit. They will, however, be asked to
speak for two to three minutes on two impromptu topics related to history,
politics and life, looking through "Churchill-tainted glasses," Wilson said.
While some people's knees start knocking at the thought of facing an
audience, Wilson just laughs. He enjoys it. He believes oratory skills can
build confidence in young people.
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"They're going to be leaders of tomorrow and parents of tomorrow. The ability
to sway hearts and minds with your mastery of language is necessary for a
great leader."
For more information on the event, please visit the webite of the Sir Winston
Churchill Society of Vancouver Island.
Copyright © VICNEWS.COM
Bulletin #34 - Apr 2011
Letter to The Churchill Centre
I am very honored to have been selected as the recipient of the prestigious
Blenheim Award. Looking at the blue-ribbon list of former honorees is a
rather humbling experience and leaves one wondering - me? My years of
involvement with the Centre have been both exciting and fulfilling, whether
as a Governor or a Chapter Liaison, membership chairman or conference
chairman.
From 27th International Churchill Conference 2011
Of course, one does not receive an award such as this by ones self,
especially when managing conferences. The heart of a Churchill Centre
conference is a team: Dan Myers, Mary Paxson and the chairman. I thank them
and share with them the honor of the Blenheim Award.
Judy Kambestad
Bulletin #34 - Apr 2011
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Churchillians Meet in Charleston for the 27th International Conference
By Judy Kambestad
27th International Churchill Conference, Charleston, South Carolina
The
conference,
"Churchill in
the News" was
split between
the Francis
Marion Hotel
for dinners
and the
College of
Charleston for
sessions. The
210
registrants
walked 2-1/2
blocks through
campus on
brick walkways
between tall
trees hanging
with Spanish
moss, edged with azaleas and dogwood, to the Stern Student Center ballroom on
the 4th floor. Three fulltime college students and twenty-two academics
attended. Chapter presidents met during Friday's lunchtime. Saturday the
academics met for a round table discussion over lunch with Professor James
Muller, TCC's Chairman of Academics Advisors. Fifty-eight people took the
pre-conference tour of Hobcaw Barony, Bernard Baruch's estate where Churchill
was a guest. Others took the Middleton Plantation tour or the Charleston
walking tour on Sunday after the conference. The City of Charleston with its
history, its gardens, pedicabs, and brick walkways was warm and charming.
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Going into a
conference as
the conference
Manager, one
hopes and
prays it will
be well
received.
Never before
have thank-you
messages from
the speakers
arrived before
pen has been
put to paper
to write their
thank you
letters! Here
are a few:
"Thank you for
delivering a fine group of interested conference participants to Hobcaw
Barony today . . . what a gift from you to Hobcaw Barony. Everything (ran)
smooth as glass . . despite forest fires and highway closures. As Judy
predicted, the group drank lots of hot coffee and bought lots of books! I so
appreciate having a copy of the conference announcement for our planning, the
wonderful program with the Baruch-Churchill-South Carolina connection
described, and the gift of the Churchill art book. All on top of a lovely day
spent with people from all over the world with similar interests as ours!"
Lee G. Brockington
Hobcaw Barony
"Thanks for including us, for your generous hospitality . . and for the
conference itself. The conference was very well run, you had some dynamite
sessions, and it seemed to me everyone really responded. . ."
Patrick Scott
Director, Irvin Department of Rare Books & Special Collections. University of
South Carolina Libraries
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"What a tremendous success the Charleston Conference was: very many
Congratulations. The numbers attending, the quality of the speakers, the
jollity of the social events, the grandeur of the closing banquet, the sheer
efficiency: all made for a spectacular occasion. Susan and I hugely enjoyed
it."
Andrew Roberts
"I had a lovely time at the conference, which was a brilliant success . . "
Lynne Olson
"Many congratulations on a brilliant conference. . ." Celia Sandys
Most of the Churchill presentations will be published in Finest Hour over the
next few issues so this report is compiled from the Evaluations.
Chris Matthews' Churchill Hardball Panel was the hit of the conference.
"Having Chris moderate . . made it a really relevant session to today's world
& political climate. . It was the high for me."
"Wow". And, "Chris was happily balanced for a change".
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How a
conference is
received is
determined by
what each
attendee
brings to the
conference.
One commented
that TCC is
nonpolitical
and comments
on today's
politics
(Obama) should
not be allowed
whereas
another
evaluator
wanted more
relationship
to today's politics and world affairs. Some liked having a speaker on
Charleston to open the conference, followed by the University of South
Carolina speakers on their Churchill collection and making of the Movietone
newsreels, a few wanted only speakers on Churchill.
Friday's dinner (shrimp and grits paired with a small filet mignon) went from
‘Excellent' to ‘food not so good - must be our taste buds'. Saturday's dinner
of prime rib fared better.
Most marked ‘good' for the cost of the conference, some ‘too pricey' or ‘too
costly'. (Note: This conference was $300 less per person than San Francisco
for the sessions, minus the dinners.) The hotel ranged in the ‘good' to
‘fair' category but with compliments for the staff. Some commented on the
audio problems in the Stern Ballroom and at Saturday night's dinner, "the
high quality of the spoken word was not matched by its sound projection".
Others enjoyed the walk to the sessions through the College of Charleston
campus.
All rated Registration ‘Excellent' (Mary Paxson). "Great innovation: The
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pocket guide." (Dan Myers). A number commented more time was needed for Q&A.
The speakers were 90% ‘Excellent' and ‘Good' with ‘Excellent' far
outnumbering the ‘Good'. Comments included "great contemporary commentary on
Churchill" (Roberts); "we should never have a conference without Allen
(Packwood)"; "how many times can I circle Excellent"? (Kimball); "Loved the
Southern affect "(Stukes); and after Allen Packwood's presentation On to
London was the comment "he should be a salesman". "Great to see what is
ahead'" (Lee Pollock).
"Great stories" (Reid). Lynne Olson and Celia Sandys both received excellent
marks.
Summing up was this from a frist time attendee, "Conference exceeded all
expectations". And finally, "I have attended a number of conferences. I have
never enjoyed one as much as this one. Very well planned."
It takes a team to put together a conference. We wish to personally thank all
those who made this one a great success.
See you in London!
Craig Horn and Ken Childs
Co-Chairmen
Judy Kambestad
Conference Manager
Bulletin #34 - Apr 2011
Laurence Geller's Remarks at the Simon Wiesenthal Center Gala Tribute
On March 28, 2011, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a leading international human
rights organization, posthumously awarded its Medal of Valor to Sir Winston
Churchill at a gala dinner in New York. The Chairman of The Churchill
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Centre's Board of Trustees, Laurence Geller, accepted the award on behalf of
Sir Winston and the Churchill family and made the following remarks.
By Laurence Geller
On behalf of The Churchill Centre I would like to thank the Simon Wiesenthal
Center for honoring Sir Winston Churchill with the Medal of Valor. Our
mission simply is to ensure that the lessons learned from the life, times,
deeds and actions of this bold, courageous, complex giant amongst men are
never forgotten. Teaching the importance and relevance of these lessons, and
their pertinence in our precarious and rapidly changing world, are what we at
The Churchill Centre are passionately driven to do. Not only for today's
generations, but for all generations of freedom loving people yet to come.
It seems to me that The Churchill
Centre's mission, and that of the Simon
Wiesenthal Center are so very similar
and that together we must strive to
ensure the horrors of the twentieth
century are not only never repeated but,
perhaps more importantly, the lessons
learned from that traumatic and bloody
century can guide us all not to repeat
past tragic mistakes. Millions of the
dead surely demand that of us?
Churchill was an unabashed supporter of the rights and destiny of the Jewish
people, often to his personal detriment. Anti-Semitism, or perhaps, more
correctly stated, Anti-Jewish sentiment, was rife throughout all too many
levels of UK society and throughout the corridors of governmental power.
Churchill certainly paid a political and popularity price for his support of
Jews. However, from his support of the Balfour Declaration to the Foundation
of the State of Israel, he never wavered in his beliefs.
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The volatile, fragile and all too often terrifying times we live in today are
sadly and all too real a mirror of those horrific years when Winston
Churchill's boldness, courage and clarion call were for so many the sole
beacon shining brightly as the lights of freedom were rapidly being
extinguished throughout Europe. All in the name of perverted causes, ever
evil totalitarianism and the inevitable, and always so glibly rationalized,
accompanying genocide.
The lessons from Churchill's deeds are myriad. However above all they are so
very relevant today. They teach the need for courageous, bold unambiguous
leadership. They teach us we deserve, and must have leaders who are neither
cynical nor living in fear of failure. They mandate our having leaders who
ignore the fickleness of tomorrow's polls and are motivated solely by clear,
honest and understood ideology and, transcending all, by an overwhelming,
determined belief in mankind's goodness and freedom. They clearly teach us
the need for an unflinching persistent willingness to fight, and then fight
again and again for the righteousness of our beliefs, whatever the personal
costs and risks. For that is the fine line that divides true leaders from
mere purveyors of populist pabulum.
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For all the Simon Wiesenthal Center stands for and for the recognition of
Churchill's relevance, today I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Bulletin #34 - Apr 2011
New York Churchillians Gather for Announcement of 2012 Churchill Exhibition
NEW YORK, 29
March 2011 - A
crowd of
enthusiastic
Churchillians
attended a
reception at
the beautiful
New York
penthouse
apartment of Churchill Centre Benefactor Tina Santi Flaherty on March 29,
2011 to celebrate the announcement of a major new exhibition, "Churchill: The
Power of Words" to be held at the prestigious Morgan Library in New York from
June to September 2012.
The Churchill Archives Centre exhibition, already supported by The Churchill
Centre and by generous grants from Mr. and Mrs. Anthony and Anna Wild and the
evenings hostess Mrs. Flaherty, will showcase an extensive range of important
historical documents from the Archives highlighting Churchill's use of
language in crafting his political career and in his defense of freedom and
democracy during Britain's Finest Hour. "Winston Churchill: The Power of
Words" will incorporate a variety of other Churchill artifacts including
books, photos and memorabilia and will we believe be accompanied by public
lectures by leading Churchill scholars and by a film program.
At the reception, Morgan Library Director William M. Griswold expressed the
Library's excitement at being able to host the exhibition and noted that the
Morgan's long history as a repository for some of the world's most important
literary and historical documents makes it an especially suitable venue.
Allen Packwood, Director of the Churchill Archives Centre and Executive
Director of The Churchill Centre - U.K. spoke about how Churchill used the
power of words in his books, articles and speeches to advance his political
ideas and philosophy.
Among prominent New Yorkers attending the reception were Jennifer J. Raab,
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President of Hunter College, Sophie Perkins, Sir Winston's
great-granddaughter along with her guest Mr. Freddie Garland, best-selling
international novelist Mrs. Barbara T. Bradford OBE and her husband Robert,
Mrs. Gilbert Butler, Mr. Declan Kiely of the Morgan Library, Mr. Robert
Liberman, British historian Mr. Andrew Roberts, Dr. & Mrs. Joseph Rowan, Mrs.
Rivington Winant, artist Mr. Paolo Giorno, Dr. & Mrs. Charles Marmar, Dr.
Gurnee Hart, Mr. & Mrs. Michael Norwich, Mr. Karl Senn, and Mr. Kenneth
Rendell.
Also joining the audience were Churchill Centre New York Chapter leaders
Gregg Berman and Randall Baker along with his wife Elena.
Further details on exhibition, including opening dates and special events,
will be highlighted on the Churchill Centre's website and in future issues of
Chartwell Bulletin.
Bulletin #34 - Apr 2011
Churchillians-By-the-Bay Release Latest Edition of their Quarterly
Newsletter, Glow-Worm
Glow Worm 1st QTR 2011
View more documents from John David Olsen
Bulletin #34 - Apr 2011
John Plumpton, Past President of The Churchill Centre, Toasts WSC in
Charleston
By John Plumpton
Churchill Conference, Charleston
March 2011
In 1970 a famous French historian and philosopher by the name of Michelle
Foucault wrote a seminal essay entitled: "What is an Author?"
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In it he introduces the concept of
"author function."
Author function argues that the author is
inextricably tied to the text-which
cannot stand alone without reference to
that author.
The set of beliefs and assumptions in the
text are forever associated with the
author who presented them in a memorable
way.
For example: There are many books about the poor in Victorian England but one
cannot imagine the story of Oliver Twist without reference to Charles
Dickens.
However, most ‘author functions' die with the author or with his or her
generation.
But a few, a VERY few, live on and enter the language as immortal metaphors
for the author's beliefs and assumptions.
Think of Freud, Machiavelli, or Marx.
We meet here this weekend to study and honour a person whose name has become
the newest entry on the list of immortal ‘author functions'.
Just as our contemporaries are in general agreement on the meaning of
Freudian, Machiavellian, or Marxist - so there has developed a general
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consensus on the meaning of the word ‘Churchillian'.
Included in that consensus are these words of the author himself:
In War: Resolution
In Defeat: Defiance
In Victory: Magnanimity
In Peace: Goodwill
We have seen much of War, Defeat, Victory, and Peace since Winston Churchill
was with us and they continue to this very day when we consider the Middle
East, the Financial Crisis and Japan.
To many our days are dark and our future darker but they will brighten if we
meet the challenges as Churchill presented it to the boys of Harrow School on
October 29, 1941.
Those words are integral to the author function of Churchillian:
"Do not let us speak of darker days; let us rather speak of sterner days.
These are not dark days: these are great days - the greatest days our country
has ever lived; and we must all thank God that that we have been allowed,
each of us according to our stations, to play a part in making these days
memorable in the history of our race."
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Please be upstanding and join me in a toast to the creator of the author
function: ‘Churchillian' - Sir Winston Churchill.
Bulletin #34 - Apr 2011
Chicago Presents the Winston S. Churchill Competition & Award for Excellence
By Joe Troiani, Member of the Governing Council, Hyman G. Rickover Naval
Academy.
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On the March 18, 2011, the Second Annual Winston S. Churchill Competition &
Award for Excellence was presented at the Hyman G. Rickover Naval Academy
- A City of Chicago Public High School.
The students and faculty have been significantly involved with the Churchill
Chicagoland Chapter for a number of years. The event is an award for
knowledge of Winston Churchill as shown by the student answering questions
and a verbal presentation to an assembly of students, faculty and judges.
Student, Chief Marcus Guerra received the top award.
As is the Naval custom, guests were piped aboard compliments of the Rickover
color guard. Laurence Geller gave the keynote address. TCC member and
Rickover board member Dr Joe Troiani provided the award. Dan Myers and Phil
Larson were part of the judging panel.
The Churchill Chicagoland chapter is very proud of its continuing
relationship and impact on the student body.
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18 / 28
By Grace Filby, Surrey, England
On March 14th, in National Science and Engineering Week with the British
Science Association, I gave a talk to members of the Monday Group of St
Paul's Church, Dorking in Surrey. This is immediately next door to the
extensive estate known as The Deepdene, where Winston Churchill's aunt Lily,
Duchess of Marlborough, and her 3rd husband Lord William Beresford VC lived
until their deaths, assisting his career. Churchill later wrote: "They bade
me visit them continuously ... thus I paid frequent visits to Deepdene with
its comfort and splendour".
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With the
area's
renowned
natural
beauty,
stunning views
and fresh air,
access to the
south coast
and historic
links to
nobility
dating back to
Queen Edith in
Saxon times,
then William
1st's son in law, de Warenne, the Howard family of Henry VIII's reign and
Spanish Armada fame, my research has highlighted the engineering achievements
over the centuries. There are man-made caves and tunnels underneath Deepdene,
the old Reigate Castle and Reigate Priory where WSC also stayed on various
historic and social occasions. Royal Engineer General Sir George Chesney in
1871 published his fictional story anonymously, which he called "The Battle
of Dorking". He foresaw the possibility of a German invasion and it was not
long before a series of 13 forts was constructed along the North Downs
chalkland. Decades later, WSC himself was awarded the Chesney Gold Medal - a
rare achievement. He did not mention The Battle of Dorking in his acceptance
speech though, but he was good at keeping secrets!
Reigate Priory, about seven miles to the east, dating back to the 13th
century and by now a private family home for the nobility, was a suitably
relaxing and inspiring location for him to make the momentous decision to
switch the Navy from coal to oil. It was also a place where WSC could hide
the royal princes during the Sinn Fein murder plots of the 1920s. He would
have known about the trap door and the tunnels to neighbouring properties.
In my talks under the auspices of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust,
Probus, Rotary and small community groups such as St Paul's, I have explained
my hypothesis that WSC and his close allies also saw the great potential of
an underground bunker, to be mined into the chalk of an old quarry in Reigate
Hill. Hence many years later in WW2 it became a fortified area, a top secret
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Battle HQ and military headquarters of General Montgomery in planning D Day
etc., and a pleasant meeting place for key people including Churchill,
Montgomery and Eisenhower. The WW2 Reigate Hill bunker was also the
inspiration for other Royal Engineers such as Colonel John Foster, who then
constructed the underground complex at HMS Forward, South Heighton in the
South Downs chalk. Years ago the MoD denied the existence of Reigate Hill's
bunker to my mother, but I have seen the evidence with my own eyes, and my
camera.
The centrepiece in the photo above is a patchwork quilt comforter which I
designed to commemorate 70 years since WSC became Prime Minister and the
Battle of Britain over this area. The central insignia is that of Surrey 615
Squadron, known as "Churchill's Own".
Towards the end of the evening we moved on to medical science and the
continuous war against infections which WSC cared so much about. As a
Churchill Fellow of 2007 I was able to provide some good news that probably
never reached his ears despite all attempts, and the audience with all their
years of experience, immediately recognised the significance. I didn't need
to say much about that.
Bulletin #34 - Apr 2011
The Churchill Centre Receives a Donation for Each Copy of Curtis Hooper's
Churchill Portrait Sold
Curtis Hooper has kindly agreed to donate a portion of the proceeds of each
sale to The Churchill Centre and Museum. Click to find out more information on
how to purchase your copy.
21 / 28
Please click the above link for more information on purcahsing your copy.
Churchill in the News
From James Cameron to Winston Churchill: Martin Bell on the Ten Greatest War
Correspondents
By Martin Bell
DAILY MAIL, 12th March 2011 -From Cameron's committed - but not biased -
reporting during the fifties and Churchill's reports from the Boer War, to
American journalist Ernie Pyle's mould-breaking interviews during World War
II, MARTIN BELL looks at those brave men from the front line.
Winston Churchill makes the list at #6.
6. WINSTON CHURCHILL (1874-1965)
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Winston
Churchill made
his name in
the Boer War,
obtaining a
commission to
act as war
correspondent
for the
Morning Post
on a salary of
£250 per month
just weeks
after the
conflict broke
out in 1899.
Churchill (above) was the first celebrity war reporter. He made his name in
the Boer War, obtaining a commission to act as war correspondent for the
Morning Post on a salary of £250 per month just weeks after the conflict
broke out in 1899. Shortly after arriving, he joined a scouting expedition in
an armoured train, leading to his capture and imprisonment in a PoW camp in
Pretoria, but he escaped across the border to Portuguese Mozambique and wrote
about his exploits for the paper.
Shortly after arriving, Churchill joined a scouting expedition in an armoured
train, leading to his capture and imprisonment in a PoW camp in Pretoria, but
he escaped and wrote about his exploits for the Morning Post
The daring and bravery he showed turned him into a celebrity and on his
return to England he published two volumes of memoirs, recounting his Boer
War experiences as both a correspondent and military officer. A few years
earlier, in 1895, he wrote about the war in Cuba for the Daily Graphic, and
while there acquired a taste for Havana cigars. He also wrote about the war
in Sudan, taking in the British Army's last cavalry charge at the Battle of
Omdurman.
See the entire list here at the Mail Online
24 / 28
Copyright © THE DAILY MAIL
Churchill in the News
Two Thumbs Up for Lionel and B-B-Bertie
by David Freeman
Finest Hour 150
The King's Speech: A film directed by Tom Hooper, written by David Seidler,
with Colin Firth as George VI, Helena Bonham Carter as Queen Elizabeth, and
Timothy Spall as Winston Churchill, released 2010.
Professor Freeman teaches history at the University of California Fullerton.
=====================
In 1925, HRH Prince Albert, Duke of York, the twenty-nine-year-old second son
of King George V, made his first broadcast speech at the closing of the
Empire Exhibition at Wembley. Addressing an audience of 100,000, his words
came haltingly, and he was acutely embarrassed. One man listening that day, a
speech therapist recently arrived from Australia, remarked, "He's too old for
25 / 28
One year later, with
the Duke and Duchess
about to visit
Australia, Lionel
Logue, his reputation
outweighing his lack
of medical
credentials, was
brought in. Therapy
had been sought
before, never with
success, but the Duke
and Logue hit it off
from the start. HRH
left their first
meeting brimming with
confidence. After two
months of treatment, his delivery was significantly improved, and the
Australian tour was a fine success.
King George V was delighted. Although he had verbally abused his children
when they were young, he admired the adult "Bertie," his favored son and
preferred successor. But primogeniture was not to be questioned in those
days, and so arose the 1936 Abdication Crisis.
Once Edward VIII had abdicated and the Duke of York had become George VI, the
latter asked Logue's help preparing for his Coronation broadcast. Logue
continued to prepare the King for big speeches until the end of the Second
World War, but by Christmas 1945, the King felt confident enough to manage on
his own. Far from feeling discarded, Logue enjoyed the satisfaction of
knowing his work was complete. "You know, Ma'am," he said to Queen Elizabeth,
"I feel like a father who is sending his boy to his first public school." The
Queen patted his arm and replied, "I know just how you feel."
This compelling story is nicely dramatized in The King's Speech by
screenwriter David Seidler, a Londoner whose own childhood stammer led him to
see George VI as a hero. In fine Shakespearean fashion, Seidler telescopes
events and takes some liberties with the facts in order to tell a dramatic
story in a reasonable amount of time.
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In 1935, King George V is shown hectoring the adult Bertie about being
tongue-tied, causing the Duke to turn to Logue ten years later than he
actually did. (In reality, Bertie's stammer was never debilitating, as Andrew
Roberts wrote: "In fact it was relatively mild, and when he was concentrating
hard on what he was saying it disappeared altogether.")
Roberts also noted that his brother never taunted Bertie for his stutter, or
accused him of wanting to usurp his throne, adding: "the ludicrous old lies
about Joachim von Ribbentrop sending Wallis Windsor seventeen red roses every
day, and her working as a geisha in Shanghai, are trotted out to blacken her
character and make the Yorks look better." Improbably, the film suggests that
Logue used the Duke's family nickname and worked in a ramshackle office; in
fact Logue had a smart set of rooms in Harley Street.
After the Abdication of his brother, and George VI's successful Coronation
speech (which is skipped), the action fast-forwards to the start of the war,
when the King has to deliver another major broadcast and calls upon the
faithful Logue for assistance; this segment represents how the King prepared
for all his broadcasts until the end of the war.
Into this mix Winston Churchill is dropped rather gratuitously. Since all but
the final scenes in the film take place during Churchill's Wilderness Years
of the 1930s, WSC's screen-time is both brief and contrived. No doubt the
point is to illustrate that George VI was the sovereign whom Churchill served
in the war, when the Royal Family, like Churchill himself, helped maintain
public morale. In any case, Timothy Spall shows enough character and
Churchillian diction in his fleeting appearances to suggest that given the
chance at an expansive portrayal, he would do a splendid job.
Churchill is first shown disapprovingly waiting upon Edward VIII at Balmoral.
He next appears privately suggesting to the Duke of York the use of George as
a regal cognomen instead of Albert, which "sounds too German." There is no
evidence that this idea originated with Churchill, but the scene serves to
make it clear to the audience that "Bertie" became George VI.
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Finally, Churchill appears in 1939, newly-installed as First Lord of the
Admiralty, encouraging the King by saying he too once suffered from a speech
impediment, which he turned to his advantage. In reality, Churchill never
overcame his inability to pronounce the letter "s," but the intention here is
to convey that Churchill and his Sovereign had something in common.
The most moving footage is the King's successful war broadcast on 3 September
1939-fictitiously attended by Churchill, Chamberlain and the Archbishop of
Canterbury, as if they had nothing else to do that day.
The King's Speech won Best Picture and Best Actor Oscars in an off-year-it's
not exactly Gone with the Wind, after all-and is a touching, well-acted film.
Planting explanatory lines, however ahistoric, in the mouths of characters is
an acceptable dramatic practice to move the story along. Most of this is
minor and forgivable, except for one howler: Stanley Baldwin is shown
submitting his resignation as Prime Minister in 1937 on the grounds that he
had been wrong about Hitler and Churchill had been right, and informing the
King that Chamberlain would succeed him.
In fact, the supremely self-satisfied Baldwin retired for the sake of
retiring, certain that Neville Chamberlain would continue his policies. It
would be two years before major British leaders conceded that Winston was
right. And, of course, it is the Sovereign's prerogative whom to send for as
Prime Minister. Even the smug Baldwin would not have mentioned a successor
unless the King asked-and had he thought Winston had been right, he would
have suggested Churchill.
If the film makes for better drama than it does history, it nevertheless gets
one thing absolutely right. It was the Duke's wife, later Queen Elizabeth, as
charming as Helena Bonham Carter plays her, who encouraged Bertie to see
Logue, offered moral support, assisted in the therapy sessions, and provided
her testimonial to Lionel Logue in a bittersweet footnote to history.
When in the 1950s the sad task fell to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother of
selecting George VI's official biographer, she chose John Wheeler-Bennett. If
Wheeler-Bennett wrote with particular sensitivity about the matter of the
King's speech, it probably stemmed from the fact that he was himself a former
patient of Lionel Logue.
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