Piece in our time...Churchill archive in jigsaw
A COLLECTION of Winston Churchill memorabilia owned by his chauffeur has been discovered in a jigsaw box after it was nearly thrown in a skip.
The items were collected by Reginald Parker, personal chauffeur to the British Prime Minister during the Second World War.
They were found by a 60-year-old clerk who was clearing his cupboards and drawers while he was on furlough.
The collection includes Post Office telegrams and instructions from 10 Downing Street and the Metropolitan Police stating where and when the Prime Minister must be picked up.
One note says: “The Prime Minister will arrive tomorrow by air at Hendon Aerodrome. Please have
Reginald Parker, inset, and at the wheel of his limousine outside No 10
police car readiness.”
The archive also includes images of Reginald including one at the wheel of the Prime Minister’s limousine outside 10 Downing Street.
The collection is now being auctioned between July 16 and 20 and is set to fetch in between £250 and £350. The owner of the archive, who did not wish to be named, said: “I’m on furlough and I’ve been sorting out cupboards and wardrobes.
“I saw a jigsaw box in my study and just thought it was one of my many jigsaws.
“But, when I opened the lid, I found the archive. forgotten all about it.”
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “It’s telling that one of the items in Reginald’s long-lost archive is a photo of Churchill with the iconic leader’s signature attached to it.”
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