A Note From Lady Churchill
Because my darling father was an international banker, I had the absolute pleasure of travelling the world and living in many different countries. We lived in Trinidad and Hong Kong, New York and London, and finally, Nassau, Bahamas. I would take on accents by osmosis. Being Canadian, we would return to Canada in the summertime and our relatives would always know where we were living by the way I was talking. It offered me an amazing education. I met so many interesting people and what it taught me was that we are all the same, the world over, having the basic need of being able to love and being loved.
Being the epitome of grace itself, my mother taught me “social graces” and the importance of practicing those graces. One of those social graces that really stuck with me was that of the hand written note. Oh, how I love to sit at my desk and pen a note to someone special. It gives me great pleasure.
I attended boarding school in England and it was whilst I was there that the great Sir Winston Churchill passed on. My heart went out to Lady Churchill, Sir Winston’s wife, and I sat down to write a note expressing my sympathy to this dear lady and to offer her my love and prayers. The letter was popped in the Post box at school and went winging its way to Lady Churchill. That was the end of it, or so I thought.
Queen Elizabeth had declared that Sir Winston should have a State Funeral. Some friends of my parents had taken a hotel suite on the procession route and invited friends to come to see the funeral procession. I was home for the weekend from school and so was fortunate enough to be there to watch the pomp and ceremony that tends to accompany a service of this type, and pomp and ceremony there was! Being the wide-eyed school girl I was, I took it all in.
Back at school, a couple of days later, in my typical way, I ran to the Post boxes to see if there was any Post for me. I saw a small, type-written envelope with my name on it.
Not having any idea from whom it might be, I opened it hurriedly and, insodoing, ripped the front of the envelope. To my amazement, it was a hand-written note from Lady Churchill!
(Photos by Linda Scolinos of Party Snaps)
I could not believe it ~ with all the letters that she must have received from people the world over, she actually sat down and wrote one to me! You can just imagine how very tickled I was by this gesture. She was obviously fortunate enough to have had a mother who taught her, like my mother taught me, the importance of a hand written note. My father kept this letter and its envelope in our safe for the longest time. I eventually had it framed and have it on the wall in our library. What a little treasure it is! Every time I look at it, it makes me smile!
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Dear Jackie: I have so enjoyed the little notes from you and Robin. The recipes are wonderful. In fact when I return from shopping this morning I intend to make The Perfect Chocolate Cake as I am a firm believer in the adage that one can never have enough chocolate. You and Robin missed your callings as you are both great “short story” writers. I have been printing out your letters and taking them to Mom and Sharon. Mom especially enjoys them and will love today’s Sir Winston story. Love from the Canadian East Coast.
Sheilia
Shelila we are so glad that you are enjoying our site….that was what we hoped for when we started it. And thrilled that your mom is enjoying our stories. We are happy to have your dear brother here….Donny has been helping us take photos and video… as well as feeding “the crew” at Jackie’s. Thanks for your kind words and encouragement. We surely appreciate it.
Yes, we are so glad that you are enjoying the Post, dear one, and thanks for taking them over to Mum B.
A charming story.
;D
Clementine Churchill was a most charming lady!
Jackie, what an amazing treasure! I can only imagine your excitement when you opened the letter…it makes me smile! Thanks for sharing your story and social graces with us.
Oh, Jackie dear –
What a lovely and moving story! I, too, learned this gracious custom from my grandmother & my mother (grandma Mable lived with us so I couldn’t get away with anything and I was forced to eat liver and beef tongue and all the things put before me that grandma cooked.)
I have been the joyous recipient of many handwritten notes from you, dear Jackie. And I can tell you that it does mean so much to the receiver to get such a dear note. We all love the expression of gratitude from others.
I can’t wait to get your “helpful hints” column next week. I’ll be responding to that one!!
With my enduring gratitude for “The Chums Daily Lift”!
~and I have been the recipient of many of your notes. Yes, we do love writing them and we do love receiving them! Thanks, so much, Dick.
What a neat story Jackie! Loved reading it!
I was truly touched by it, I must say. What an amazing lady to have written all of those hand written notes!
Jackie, what a Joy that must have brought to your sweet young soul. You have always been so gifted in making people feel so loved with your most kind notes. I have been so fortunate to be the recipient of many notes from your hand and heart. What a treasure!
~no more gifted than you, dear Janna!
What a great story Jackie! Thank you for sharing it with us.
Yes, it was a really sweet gesture on Lady Churchill’s part. Made a school girl’s day!