CHURCHILL’S BIRTHDAY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29068, 3 December 1959, Page 24

CHURCHILL’S BIRTHDAY

Speech. In House Of Commons (N2. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON. Dec. 1. Sir Winston Churchill celebrated his eighty-fifth birthday yesterday by turning up at the House of Commons —and speaking in it for the first time since he resigned as Prime Minister in 1955. It was a speech of only 14 words —an acknowledgement of congratulations—but the sound of the famous voice in the scene of its great triumphs brought back memories for many. The House was discussing aviation questions when Sir Winston Churchill, in a dark morning suit and bow tie, walked in slowly, beaming around him. Everything stopped and cheers broke out from both Conservatives and Socialists.

The Labour leader (Mr Hugh Gaitskell) expressed “warmest congratulations and affectionate greetings.” Mr R. A. Butler, Leader of the House, offered “most heartfelt good wishes to the honourable gentleman.” The “honourable gentleman,” his voice quieter than in past yeats but still with its slow and confident phrasing, rose and said: “May I say I am most grateful, and eagerly accept both forms of compliments.” After listening for a few minutes to the start of the main debate—on a medical bill—Sir Winston Churchill left. Postbags heavy with letters and gifts from many parts of the world kept arriving at the statesman’s London home. In yesterday’s mail were letters from President Eisenhower

and many other heads of State and political leaders. Last night Sir Winston Churchill issued a statement thanking people for their letters. He said: “I am most grateful to all those who have so kindly sent me messages of good wishes on my eighty-fifth birthday. “There are so many that I cannot unfortunately acknowledge them all, but I should like to express to the senders my warm thanks for their thought of me which has given me and my wife great pleasure.”