Seeing the news on the TV and the newspapers about Sir Winston Churchill and being a regular reader of The Argus, it brought back memories of my experience .
Many years ago I lived in Coldean and became friends with a neighbour. We both worked on the railway. He was an electrician and I was a mechanic.
We both left those jobs. He joined the police force and I became a car salesman.
My friend was sent to Churchill’s residence as a security guard with another colleague.
Some years later I was invited to stay for a while at Churchill’s estate, Chartwell.
On entering the hallway, on one side there were wooden cabinets with cushions.
Upon lifting the lids, there were thousands of cigars sent to him by different people. When I left my friend gave me a box. I was delighted.
Sometime later I was cutting my grass and decided to put one of Churchill’s cigars in my mouth and at the same time one of my neighbours walked past, looked at me and said, “nice cigar!” to which I replied, “yes, one of Churchill’s!”
He laughed but little did he know I was telling the truth. Have any other people been lucky enough to have experienced this?
Rupert Maher, Old Shoreham Road, Hove
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