Dear John, There is a file in the Churchill Papers collection here that suggests planning may have started as early as 1958 and that it was certainly well advanced by 1961. Allen
Personal: Family etc: Preparations for death and state funeral. Reference code: CHUR 1/137 Part of CHUR 1 <http://www-archives.chu.cam.ac.uk/perl/node?a=a;search_id=3233247;sort_ by=Dscore;reference=CHUR%201> ; previous record CHUR 1/136 <http://www-archives.chu.cam.ac.uk/perl/node?a=a;search_id=3233247;sort_ by=Dscore;reference=CHUR%201%2F136> ; next record CHUR 1/138 <http://www-archives.chu.cam.ac.uk/perl/node?a=a;search_id=3233247;sort_ by=Dscore;reference=CHUR%201%2F138> . Date: Jan 1958 - Nov 1961 Scope/content: Correspondents on various aspects of the organisation of WSC's funeral and burial (code named "Operation Hope Not") include: David Stephens, Secretary of Appointments to Prime Minister (11); John Walker, Lancaster Herald, on invitations and arrangements at St Paul's Cathedral (23); Mary Soames [earlier Mary Churchill]; H Woods, vicar of Bladon [Oxfordshire] on WSC's burial; Sir Norman Brook, Secretary to the Cabinet; and Sir Anthony Wagner, Garter Principal King of Arms. Also includes notes and copies of correspondence from Anthony Montague Browne [Private Secretary to WSC]; notes of meetings; details of the procedures to be employed at WSC's death; and a list of the organisations with which WSC was involved. Other subjects covered by the file include: WSC's original wish to be buried at Chartwell [Kent] and the selection of pall bearers. ________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: 28 March 2013 01:07 To: [email protected] Subject: [ChurchillChat] Setting up "Hope Not" Folks, I am looking for some information on the Committee "Hope Not" charged by Prime Minister Macmillan to organize the funeral for WSC. I know it was set up in 1963 under the Chairmanship of the Duke of Norfolk. Is there a more precise date on when it was established and the actual circumstances that possibly impelled the Prime Minister to set the Committee up? I was recently asked if it was because WSC had become very ill again., While so frail that he could not go to the April 9 1963 event in Washington DC when he was made an Honorary Citizen of the US, I can't find a particular event that might have led to Macmillan's action. I know he was "never the same again" after his hip fracture and surgery in June 1962. Does anyone have any background information, or can direct me to a good source, with dates etc. on the circumstances of the setting up of "Hope Not". Maybe there is something in Finest Hour but I can't find anything that answers my question. Thank you. John John H. Mather MD FACPE -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "ChurchillChat" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/churchillchat?hl=en. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "ChurchillChat" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/churchillchat?hl=en. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
