79th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27212, 2 December 1953, Page 11

79th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED

Busy Day For Sir Winston Churchill

(Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 30. Sir Winston Churchill smoked several more than his usual daily quota today of his famous outsize cigars to celebrate his seventy-ninth birthday, but did enough work to tire a much younger man.

His birthdav began at Chequers with a kiss from Lady Churchill, a joyous greeting by Rufus, his poodle, and then a Cabinet meeting. The Queen, from Panama, sent a special message of good wishes. President Eisenhower, who will meet Sir Winston on Friday, also sent a message. Spectators in the galleries in the House of Commons broke Parliamentary rules today by starting to applaud the Prime Miaister when he entered the chamber. The spectators were quickly subdued by attendants.

Family Dinner Party Sir Winston Churchill listened to speeches in the House of Commons and then went to his room, where he worked until a dinner party with members of his family.

Then followed a reception by Ministers and other close friends. Birthday greetings, flowers, and paintings arrived at No. 10 Downing Street all day long. Sir Winston Churchill had no time to read all the messages. The British press gave much space to his birthday in articles and pictures.

Looking as well as ever, he entered his study after the reception tonight to work on the British “brief” for Bermuda. He will leave tonight by air for the conference there.