Nov/Dec 2023

20
South Woodford Village Gazette
Mrs Churchill
Often too busy to visit his Woodford constituency, Churchill would
send his wife in his place. Now, director Chris Jaeger is bringing the play
Mrs Churchill – My Life With Winston to South Woodford this November
Winston Churchill is one of the most
famous Englishmen that has ever
lived. Several years ago, he was
voted first in a top 100 Englishmen poll. He
is often portrayed as a bulldog because
of his tenacity as a politician and his
toughness on the international stage.
He was an MP for 62 years but there were
many other sides to him. He was a talented
painter, he wrote many books, winning a
Nobel Prize for literature; and, of course,
nobody could forget his biting humour
(eg. Nancy Astor: “If I were married to you, I’d
put poison in your coffee.” Winston: “If I were
married to you, I’d drink it.”)
They say that behind every great man, there
is a great woman. Was this true in Churchill’s
case? What of Clementine, his wife of 56
years? Did he bully her like he did so many
other people? Was he as grumpy and irascible
at home as he often was in the House of
Commons? Given his strength and conviction,
did Clem have any influence on him at all? Or
was she ‘the little lady at home’? The clue lies
in another of Winston’s quotes. He said: “My
most brilliant achievement was my ability to
be able to persuade my wife to marry me.”
Despite his bullish and aggressive reputation,
when Clem first met him, he was a tonguetied,
stammering young man with few social
graces. Yes, he was already a war hero. Yes,
he was already an established politician. But
these were men-dominated areas and he’d
had little contact with women. Clem was very
unimpressed with him and they did not meet
again for four years. It was better the second
time, and despite Winston treading on her feet
several times while dancing, they talked and
talked and found they had much in common.
Within six months, they were married.
Liz Grand as
Clementine Churchill
In truth, Clem was really the only person who
could control him. It didn’t happen very often,
but when she put her foot down, he rarely
went against her. A prime example was the
D-Day landings. Winston wanted to be in the
lead boat, but the navy was very unhappy
about that and talked to Clem. She told him
he wasn’t going… and that was that.
In the play, not for the first time, Winston
is too busy to attend his local Woodford
constituency and is sending Clementine.
She says: “Tomorrow, I shall thank the good
people of Woodford for their loyalty and their
kindness. You have taken us both to your
hearts and I’m delighted we’ve been able to
serve you for 30 years and more.”
But what of her children, her life and her
grief at his death? All these questions will
be answered, and many more, in Liz Grand’s
superb, moving, funny, sensitive and
informative portrayal of Clementine Churchill.
This was one of the great love affairs of
all time.
Mrs Churchill – My Life with Winston will be
performed at Redbridge Drama Centre in
South Woodford on 17 November (7.30pm;
tickets: £16.50). Visit swvg.co.uk/mrsc
To advertise, call 020 8819 0595 or visit swvg.co.uk