ST HOUR - Winston Churchill

The next day, after an opportunity toexplore the city on our own, two busloadsset out to follow Churchill's paths throughthe "Golden Horseshoe" to Niagara Falls. Hehad visited the Falls in 1900, 1929 and 1943,pointing out on one of his later trips, "the principleremains the same: the water keeps flowingover." We saw it flow in daylight, and in gloriouscolour illuminated by giant spotlights at nightfrom our dining room in the Skylon Tower.On Friday, David Stafford again spoke onthe forthcoming (2001) Oxford Companion toWinston Churchill, which he is co-producingwith his colleague, Paul Addison. ProfessorAddison had accepted our invitation to join usat the Conference but ill-health prevented hisattendance. He was honoured, in absentia, forhis contributions to Churchill scholarship withthe Third Farrow Award for Excellence inChurchill Studies, joining previous recipientsJames Muller and Sir Martin Gilbert.Next, Professor John Ramsden explored SirWinston's honorary United States Citizenship,research undertaken with the help of theKennedy Library, one of our calls at the 1995Boston Conference. The Library had recentlyobtained the papers of Kay Halle, the lady whospearheaded this honour for Churchill.Ramsden's lecture was so riveting that manypresent asked that we consider publishing it asa pamphlet; one way or the other, we will get itinto print!Hugh Segal, former chief of staff toCanadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, aftermuch good-natured bantering with ICS CanadaPresident Barber, presented a Canadian perspectiveon "Churchill as a Moderate Conservative."Hugh is used to the ready quips bypolitical wags, and one of his countrymen commented,"In Canada, we call them Red Toriesbut it may not sell elsewhere." The editor ofFinest Hour, one of the six people in New Jerseyto vote for Barry Goldwater in 1964, thoughtHugh made a good case for the proposition thatextremism in the pursuit of moderation is novice....Each Conference presents an academicpanel discussion on a Churchill book. This yearthe focus was on India, a collection of speechespublished in 1931 and never reprinted until the1990s. These speeches are often cited as equalor greater in oratorical quality than the onesChurchill uttered in the Second World War,although the message was more debatable.Chaired by James Muller, the participants wereProfessors Kirk Emmert, Cliff Orwin and BarryGough. After the panel we introduced JamesMuller as the editor of a collection of papersfrom The Churchill Center's first symposium:Churchill as Peacemaker, just published byCambridge University Press (and availablethrough the Finest Hour New Book Service).Our Friday evening black-tie dinner, hostedby Henry Rodrigues of ICS Canada, featured apoignant reading by Celia Sandys of her grandfather'sshort, sad story The Dream, with SalAsaro's painting projected on a large screenbehind her. (For those who don't have it, TheDream is available for US $15 from ChurchillStores.) Celia's reading enthralled and movedher audience, who gave her a standing ovation.Honorary member Robert Hardy, the acclaimedBritish actor who has so memorably portrayedChurchill in stage and screen, had been scheduledto perform the reading, but a health problemprevented his attendance. He sent an audiointroduction of his good friend Celia, providingus with a humourous account of his battle withhis health—and his doctor.When deserved, the Blenheim Award is presentedfor notable service to the ChurchillSocieties and/or the Memory of Sir Winston.This year it was presented to retiring ICS/USAtreasurer George Lewis by retiring ICS/USApresident Richard Langworth: "$389.64—thatwas the level of our exchequer when GeorgeLewis took over upon the death of DaltonNewfield in 1982. Although it has grown somewhatsince, what has never changed is George'sdedication to the cause, his steadfast loyaltythrough good times and bad, his sharing in ourmany triumphs, his shrugging off our fewtragedies. Nobody deserves it more."On Saturday, Richard and Parker Lee presentedcurrent plans for the Churchill Center,Washington, DC including the new Associatesprogram, which will be in full swing by the timeyou read this, and answered questions from theaudience. They were particularly grateful for asolid expression of support by Janet Daniels,part of the record British delegation, fromMiddlesex, England: "I think you all deserve ourthanks and a round of applause for this brilliantconcept." Thank-you, Janet.This was followed by three excellent visualconcluded on page 18...FINEST HOUR 96/16