Dear John, The first letter in the file is from David Stephens, a Civil Servant at 10 Downing St, to Anthony Montague Browne reporting a conversation with Sir Michael Adeane, the Queen's Private Secretary, about making arrangements for a State Funeral and the need to consult Lady Churchill to ascertain the family's wishes (dated 27 Jan 1958). This is followed by a typescript procedure dated 21 March 1958, outlining the protocols to be followed by the different Govt depts in the event of Sir Winston's death. This leads to further discussions between Montague Browne, the relevant civil servants and the Earl Marshal, and it is clear that by 1960 planning is already well advanced, though it is not immediately clear (without more detailed research) at what point the name "Operation Hope Not" is first used. Hope this helps, Allen
________________________________ From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John Mather Sent: 29 March 2013 20:05 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ChurchillChat] Setting up "Hope Not" Allen, Thank you. I wish I could access these papers via the internet as I am unlikel to be in Cambridge any time soon. Do these papers state when (date) the Committee "Hope Not" was set up? Was it Macmillan who set it up, or did it come earlier? Thanks. John John H. Mather MD FACPE President, UNI-CORN LLC Tel: 240 353 6782 -----Original Message----- From: Allen Packwood <[email protected]> To: churchillchat <[email protected]> Sent: Thu, Mar 28, 2013 3:40 am Subject: RE: [ChurchillChat] Setting up "Hope Not" 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] <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. 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