Winston Churchill Is Grateful For the Compliments of the Conservative Club in His Constituency

The West Essex Conservative Club was, and remains, an organization designed to further the program of the Conservative Party and provide a venue for Conservatives to meet. Winston Churchill was integral to that organization as the Member of Parliament for Epping and later Woodford between 1924 and 1964, both of which constituencies were in the club’s territory. Churchill was based at the club from 1930 to 1940, and he was quoted as saying “What a fine club it is”.

Geoff Horsnell, chairman of the Wanstead [West Essex] Society, states: “It was a Conservative club for a very long time and Winston Churchill is integral to the history there…It is rumored he kept his cigars behind the bar although this hasn’t been proved, but it would have been a really busy bustling place and part of the charm…” In Churchill’s later years, he was often made ex-officio president of the club.

Churchill’s maiden speech in Parliament was in February 1901, and quite likely the club wrote Churchill congratulating him of the anniversary of the event. Typed letter signed, on his letterhead, London, February 28, 1962, to club chairman H. Percy Moll. “I am indeed obliged to you for your letter. Would you please convey to the members of the West Essex Conservative Club my warm thanks for the compliment they have paid me, and my good wishes?” Two years later Churchill would retire from Parliament after serving 63 years.