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Appeal launched to buy heirlooms of WWII PM Churchill for the nation

Xinhua, September 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

Britain's National Trust (NT) launched an appeal Monday to raise the equivalent of 9.5 million U.S. dollars to buy a collection of historic heirlooms that belonged to wartime prime minister Sir Winston Churchill.

The collection of personal objects has been on long term loan to Chartwell, the country retreat in Kent where the famous statesman escaped from his hectic life in the corridors of power in London. He lived there between 1922 and his death in 1964.

The NT was given the property in 1946, and already many of the items are on display for visitors. The great grandson of Churchill, Randolph Churchill, has offered the NT the chance to buy further items for the collection.

The appeal, launched on the 50th anniversary of Chartwell opening to the public, is one of the biggest ever made by the trust, which says reaching its appeal target will ensure Churchill's story resonates with future generations.

A spokesman for the NT said: "An important part of the appeal is to acquire for the nation hundreds of precious heirlooms, many of international significance. Chartwell is the only place in the world where objects that belonged to Churchill can be seen in their original domestic setting and they are intrinsic to his life and achievements."

The items include Churchill's library of inscribed books, medallions, gifts, and awards that he received from around the world, including his Nobel Prize in Literature, along with personal and poignant mementos such as the speech box, in which he stored notes for his famous speeches.

Katherine Barnett, Chartwell's house and collections manager said: "There is something very special about Chartwell where visitors can experience Churchill's personal and public world through the possessions that meant so much to him."

"A successful appeal will enable us to tell Churchill's story so that one of our greatest Britons remains accessible to people of all ages," said Barnett.

Dame Helen Ghosh, director-general for the National Trust, said: "In this 50th anniversary year of Chartwell opening to the public, we have a focus for one of the biggest appeals we have ever made to safeguard a collection of this kind and ensure that we can continue to tell Churchill's story for the next fifty years and beyond."

Professor Sir David Cannadine, historian and author, said: "The more Churchill's life recedes into history, the more important places like Chartwell become."

The Trust hopes to raise the money by January 2017 to secure the collection. Endit