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The Churchill Society
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Churchill's Speeches

"This Superb
Honour"

Westminster Hall

London,

On the ocassion of Churchill's

80th Birthday.

30th November 1954

Churchill turns to inspect his
Portrait.

This to me is the most memorable public occasion of my
life. No one has ever received a similar mark of honour before. There has
not been anything like it in British history, and indeed I doubt whether any
of the modern democracies has shown such a degree of kindness and generosity
to a party politician who has not yet retired and may at any time be
involved in controversy. It is indeed the most striking example I have ever
known of that characteristic British Parliamentary principle cherished in
both Lords and Commons 'Don't bring politics into private life'. It is
certainly a mark of the underlying unity of our national life which survives
and even grows in spite of vehement party warfare and many grave differences
of conviction and sentiment. This unity is, I believe, the child of freedom
and fair play fostered in the cradle of our ancient island institutions, and
nursed by tradition and custom. I am most grateful to Mr Attlee for the
agreeable words he has used about me this morning, and for the magnanimous
appraisal he has given of my variegated career. I must confess, however,
that this ceremony and all its charm and splendour may well be found to have
seriously affected my controversial value as a party politician. However,
perhaps with suitable assistance I shall get over this reaction and come
round after a bit.

The Leader of the Opposition and I have been the only
two Prime Ministers of this country in the last fourteen years. There are no
other Prime Ministers alive. Mr Attlee was also Deputy Prime Minister with
me in those decisive years of war. During our alternating tenure, tremendous
events have happened abroad, and far-reaching changes have taken place at
home. There have been three general elections on universal suffrage and the
activity of our Parliamentary and party machinery has been absolutely free.
Mr Attlee's and my monopoly of the most powerful and disputatious office
under the Crown all this time is surely the fact which the world outside may
recognize as a symbol of the inherent stability of our British way of life.
It is not, however, intended to make it a permanent feature of the
Constitution.

I am sure this is the finest greeting any Member of the
House of Commons has yet received and I express my heartfelt thanks to the
representatives of both Houses for the gifts which you have bestowed in
their name. The portrait is a remarkable example of modern art. It certainly
combines force and candour. These are qualities which no active Member of
either House can do without or should fear to meet. The book with which the
Father of the House of Commons Mr David Grenfell* has presented me is a token of
the goodwill and chivalrous regard of members of all parties. I have lived
my life in the House of Commons, having served there for fifty-two of the
fifty-four years of this tumultuous and convulsive century. I have indeed
seen all the ups and downs of fate and fortune, but I have never ceased to
love and honour the Mother of Parliaments, the model to the legislative
assemblies of so many lands.

The care and thought which has been devoted to this
beautiful volume and the fact that it bears the signatures of nearly all my
fellow-Members deeply touches my heart. And may I say that I thoroughly
understand the position of those who have felt it their duty to abstain. The
value of such a tribute is that it should be free and spontaneous. I shall
treasure it as long as I live and my family and descendants will regard it
as a most precious possession. When I read the eulogy so gracefully and
artistically inscribed on the title page, with its famous quotation from
John Bunyan, I must confess to you that I was overpowered by two emotions -
pride and humility. I have always hitherto regarded them as opposed and also
corrective of one another; but on this occasion I am not able to tell you
which is dominant in my mind. Indeed both seem to dwell together hand in
hand. Who would not feel proud to have this happen to him and yet at the
same time I never was more sure of how far it goes beyond what I
deserve.

I was very glad that Mr Attlee described my speeches in
the war as expressing the will not only of Parliament but of the whole
nation. Their wiil was resolute and remorseless and, as it proved,
unconquerable. It fell to me to express it, and if I found the right words
you rnust remember that I have always earned my living by my pen and by my
tongue. It was a nation and race dwelling all round the globe that had the
lion heart. I had the luck to be called upon to give the roar. I also hope
that I sometimes suggested to the lion the right places to use his claws. I
am now nearing the end of my journey. I hope I still have some services to
render. However that may be and whatever may befall I am sure I shall never
forget the emotions of this day or be able to express my gratitude to those
colleagues and companions with whom I have lived my life for this superb
honour they have done me.

* (the longest serving MP is known as
the father of the House of Commons)

___________________

Churchill hated the portrait.
Lady Churchill had it secretly burned.

...................

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