Chartwell, the home of Sir Winston Churchill between 1922 and 1964, Kent.
Yesterday was an important day in British history, as it marked the 60th anniversary of Churchill’s last day at 10 Downing Street. This, in the year that marks 50 years since the man’s passing, reminds us how enduring a mark Churchill left on British, and indeed world history.
Here at Royal Oak, we’re celebrating Churchill’s life year-round. Our travel offerings include a tour of properties with significant ties to the man’s life, including Chartwell and Blenheim Palace, and a chance to be a part of the 32nd Annual Churchill Conference of the Churchill Centre in Oxfordshire. Learn more about these unique travel opportunities here and dive into Churchill’s legacy this landmark year.
Our celebration extends stateside, too, with Dr. Michael Shelden’s lectures this month, “Young Titan: The Making of Winston Churchill.” Shelden delivered his talk in Chicago last week, and the coming two weeks will find him in New York City, Philadelphia, San Diego and San Francisco. Get your tickets today!
And of course we’ve been discussing Churchill in this space, and will continue to examine his legacy throughout this momentous year. Last month we discussed his “Man of the Half-Century” honor from the January 1950 TIME Magazine, and also looked at the role he played in Queen Elizabeth II’s life, as presented through Broadway’s The Audience starring Helen Mirren.
Birkenhead Park, Merseyside
Churchill’s departure from office coincides with another important anniversary: the opening of the first public park in England, Birkenhead Park, Merseyside, on April 5, 1847. While there were of course other parks, this one was publicly funded and open to everyone.
As a private charity, the National Trust is not publicly funded, but operates under ideas similar to those that underpinned the opening of Birkenhead Park. Since its founding – 48 years after Birkenhead – the Trust has worked to preserve historic places and green spaces forever, for everyone.
The National Trust’s Project Neptune has protected UK coasts for 50 years.
With such similar values, the opening of England’s first public park is a moment to celebrate, a landmark in creating shared spaces full of natural beauty that we dedicate ourselves to preserving. Whether it’s through Project Neptune—which itself marks 50 years of protecting UK coastline in 2015 –or initiatives at individual properties, the National Trust and the Royal Oak Foundation are proud to carry those ideals forward into the future.
