CHURCHILL AND MADEIRA: 75 YEARS AGO
This exhibition is a unique online collaboration between the Churchill Archives Centre [CAC] and the Madeira Archives and Library [MAL]. It brings together photographs of Churchill’s 1950 visit, kept in Madeira, with documents from Churchill’s own papers. Documents from Churchill’s own papers are Reproduced with permission of Curtis Brown, London on behalf of Portland Churchill Ltd © Winston S. Churchill / Portland Churchill Ltd.
The Madeira Archives and Library serves as both the historical archive and the regional public library for the Autonomous Region of Madeira. Its collections document Madeira's history from the 15th-century Portuguese discovery of this Atlantic archipelago through to the 20th century. MAL holds the Madeira Photography Museum—"Atelier Vicente's" photographic collections, comprising approximately four million photographs dating back to the 1850s. Among these is the Perestrellos Studio collection, created by a renowned family of Madeiran photographers who began their work in 1876. Most of the photographs of Winston Churchill taken in Madeira in January 1950 were captured by Raul Perestrello and were subsequently widely disseminated by local newspapers covering Churchill's visit.
Raul Martins Perestello was born on February 27, 1915, and died on December 17, 1998. He worked as a photographer between the 1940s and 1990s. He received several honors and distinctions for his photographic work, including from the Spanish government in 1958 and the Regional Government of Madeira in 1995.
The telegram from the Churchills to the Nairns expressing interest in Madeira as a ‘paintable, batheable, comfortable, flowery’ holiday destination [CAC, CHUR 1/81/51]. Reproduced with permission of Curtis Brown, London on behalf of Portland Churchill Ltd © Winston S. Churchill / Portland Churchill Ltd.
Bryce Nairn’s encouraging reply [CAC, CHUR 1/81/46].
Violent storms in Madeira almost stopped the visit taking place [CHUR 1/81/45].
Winston and Clementine Churchill arrived on board the luxury liner Durban Castle on New Year’s Day 1950 and were met by large crowds in Funchal. Their party included their daughter Diana and an entourage of personal secretaries, literary assistants and detectives [PT/ABM/PER/A-F/025-055/000008 & 000009].
The Churchills enjoyed the luxury of the newly reopened Reid’s Hotel
[CAC, CHUR 1/81/90 & PT/ABM/PER/A-F/025-055/000019].
The visit was primarily a private one, but Churchill did make one public appearance when he set up his painting easel above the harbour at Câmara de Lobos [PT/ABM/PER/A-F/025-055/000025 & 000032 & 000034].
Churchill’s request for more paints [CAC, CHUR 1/81/227]. Reproduced with permission of Curtis Brown, London on behalf of Portland Churchill Ltd © Winston S. Churchill / Portland Churchill Ltd.
Unfortunately, Churchill’s visit to Madeira was cut short when the British Labour Prime Minister Clement Attlee suddenly called a general election (one which Churchill’s Conservative Party would narrowly lose). He returned home by flying boat on 12 January, leaving Clementine and Diana to enjoy the rest of the holiday without him. The islanders ensured that he did not leave empty handed and Churchill found himself with plentiful stocks of Madeira wine.
Churchill’s note of thanks to those who took him home at such short notice [CAC, CHUR 1/80/105]. Reproduced with permission of Curtis Brown, London on behalf of Portland Churchill Ltd © Winston S. Churchill / Portland Churchill Ltd.
Note from Churchill’s secretary regarding press interest in the announcement of the UK General Election. It quickly became obvious that Churchill had no option but to return [CAC, CHUR 1/81/81]. Reproduced with permission of Curtis Brown, London on behalf of Portland Churchill Ltd © Winston S. Churchill / Portland Churchill Ltd.
