Monday, July 1, 2013

* A Boy's Adventure in New York: Greeting Sir Winston Churchill

As I read through  the thirty-three pages of this scrapbook for the first time in nearly half a century (48 years) I am struck at the kindness of adults to me as a boy of 16 and then as a young college student, from taxi drivers and New Yorkers, to Churchill's nurse, Muriel Thompson, to shipping magnate J. Peter Grace, to congressmen and an ambassador. 

I hope in my twenty-five years as a teacher in Vermont that I have been able to return that kindness and encouragement to the young people with whom I came in contact---and also to transmit my belief that life is a great and wonderful adventure.


Once a boy, now 68.


Paul D. Keane
M.A., M.Div., M.Ed.    




       
 



















Muriel Thompson, Churchill's nurse, gave me not only his cigar, but a note from him on House of Commons stationery, matches from Onassis' ship The Christina, and Churchill's handkerchief (unused!) with his private laundry mark "20." on it.
























FIFTY YEARS LATER

















________________________________________

On Mon, Jul 1, 2013 at 5:03 AM, Allen Packwood <Allen.Packwood@chu.cam.ac.uk> wrote:


Dear Paul,


Sarah and I met this morning and carefully unpacked the cigar. I am delighted to confirm that, apart from a couple of small pieces that had come away from the frayed end, it is intact and looking in good condition. Sarah is now going to think about a safe way of displaying it that will prevent further deterioration or damage during handling. We will send you a receipt shortly. In the meantime, thank you once again for this unique item, and for sharing its fantastic back story.
All best wishes,


Allen


Director
Churchill Archives Centre
Churchill College 

Registered Charity: 1137476
(0)1223 336175
Churchill College 50th Anniversary - Building the future

Personal data supplied in the course of an enquiry will be kept within Churchill College and may be used for administrative purposes within the terms of the Data Protection Act (1988).