‘The Mule’
Only two girls’ names have consistently featured in the 100 most popular baby names across every decade of the last century. Elizabeth is one. The other is Sarah.
Sarah Churchill was a tabloid favourite in her day, in her words, constantly “written up, written down and always written about” as “a woman who happened to be a daughter of one of the ‘greats’ of history.” As with many children born to famous parents, the third child of five born to Winston and Clementine Churchill, she worked resolutely to establish her own identity and life, beyond the scope of her family’s expectations for a debutante, earning her the fond nickname “The Mule”.
Sarah had a successful stage career before joining the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force to serve her country during World War II. It was a role in which she thrived, first as a plotter at RAF Medmenham, and then as a photographic interpreter. She also accompanied her father at international conferences as his aide-de-camp. Sarah’s efficiency and composure in this role earned her the respect of international leaders and also strengthened the bond with her parents, especially Winston, who would subsequently turn to her for support in difficult times.
Her post-war performing career took her to Hollywood where amongst her roles, she acted and danced opposite Fred
Astaire in the 1951 film Royal Wedding. In this she fulfilled a childhood dream, although she later referred to him as “a little gnome… and very, very shy”. Sarah also published six books, including a tribute to her father, A Thread In The
Tapestry (1966) and her 1981 autobiography Keep On Dancing. In the latter she gave an honest account of her turbulent personal life, which ultimately led to problems with alcohol, on one occasion resulting in a short prison spell.
Learn about Sarah and her siblings at Chartwell in Kent, where Sarah’s former bedroom hosts displays relating to Churchill family life. nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell