Churchill: Gifts to a Hero - A collector's catalogue to accompany a special exhibition of gifts to The Greatest Briton

2005 and 2006 represent in turn the 40th anniversary of Sir Winston's death and the 40th anniversary of the opening of Chartwell to the general public. To mark these occasions, The National Trust has decided for a limited period to change the display of museum exhibits, the first such alteration since the house opened in 1965.

Chartwell was Sir Winston Churchill's family home for over forty years, and the place closest to his heart, so to make such a significant change to the exhibition was not a decision taken lightly. It has been important to establish exactly what we are attempting to achieve and indeed why we are doing it at all. Is Chartwell not already full of gifts to Churchill the hero?

Well, yes it is to an extent, and some truly significant gifts at that. The Study for example, has a Khorassan carpet given by the Shah of Persia, while overhead can be found the Union Flag flown over liberated Rome on 5 June 1944, and later given to Sir Winston by General Alexander. Just beyond, the bronze lion given by the people of Luxembourg proudly stands guard.

However, with over 5,000 items personally associated with Sir Winston in the collection at Chartwell, it is impossible to show them all, so this exhibition provides an obvious opportunity to highlight a number of pieces never seen before. Rather than merely substitute some objects for others, we have deliberately selected gifts with stories to tell.

Research has enabled us to take objects that have been in storage for half a century and to find out more about why they were given, when and by whom. This patchwork of individual stories contributes to a larger picture, the story of how Churchill was regarded as a hero by so many in his own lifetime. At the same time it might also help to explain the enduring appeal of this giant of the twentieth century, as demonstrated by the public recognition in the BBC survey of 2002 which confirmed that Churchill is still regarded today to be the 'Greatest Briton'.

Within the exhibition, and this companion souvenir catalogue, gifts from the great figures of the time are given no preference over those that were made or chosen by individual members of the public. Our aim is to illustrate the enormous impression made on so many by this one man through his words and actions, expressed in gifts from nations, heads of state, towns and institutions, friends, colleagues, family and individuals from his own country and beyond.

Neil Walters, March 2005