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ASCOT 1882-1884 Winston had already met education in the form of a governess but that was a benign experience compared with what was now being planned for him . . . a much worse peril began to threaten. I was to go to school. I was now seven years old, and was what grown-up people in their off-hand way called a "troublesome boy". It appeared that I was to go away from home for many weeks at a stretch in order to do lessons under masters. The term had already begun, but still I should have to stay seven weeks before I could come home for Christmas. Although much that I had heard about school had made a distincdy disagreeable impression on my mind, an impression, I may add, throughly borne out by the actual experience , I was also excited and agitated by this great change in my life. I thought in spite of the lessons, it would be fun living with so many other boys, and that we should make friends together and have great adventures . . . Anyhow I was perfecdy helpless. Irresistible tides drew me swiftly forward. I was no more consulted about leaving Below: St George's School, Ascot home than I had been about coming into the world . . . . . . The fateful day arrived. My mother took me to the station in a hansom cab. She gave me three half-crowns, which I dropped on the floor of the cab, and we had to scramble about in the straw to find them. We only just caught the train. If we had missed it, it would have been the end of the world. However, we didn't, and the world went on. The school my parents had selected for my education was one of the most fashionable and expensive in the country . . . We had tea with the Headmaster, with whom my mother conversed in the most easy manner. I was preoccupied with the fear of spilling my cup and so making "a bad start". I was also miserable at the idea of being left alone among all these strangers in this great, fierce, formidable place. After all I was only seven, and I had been so happy in my nursery with all my toys. I had such wonderful toys: a real steam engine, a magic lantern, and a collection of soldiers already nearly a thousand strong. Now it was to be all lessons . . . . . . When the last sound of my mother's departing wheels had died away, the Headmaster • ' 'T» *me££ — Division of / ^ Boys for £ J^/l^nt . / / * Composition Translation Grammar Diligence ^ ^ ^ /** faa.7n,??UL Jd. .cL^atjL * * * * * ^ ***** >i~+-£+++*It is hard to imagine that such a plea, following hot on the heels of the "flour", could have been denied. 51 1883 During the summer holidays Winston and Jack had been left at Blenheim. Lord Randolph, who was travelling on the Continent, was concerned who would keep Winston in order. On 9th September he wrote to Lady Randolph from Lucerne . . . I hope you had a nicetimeat Blenheim & that Winston was good. I think it is rather rash of you letting him be at Blenheim without you. I don't know who will look after him & Sunny & keep them in order . . . Once more Winston wrote to his mother proudly announcing a new achievement. How he would have loved to show off his first fish! Above: The Lake at Blenheim by Winston S. Churchill c. 1928 tiJL. icum/r w fat** * *y 52 1883 It was not just her hectic social life or lack of interest in her children that kept Lady Randolph's visits to Blenheim as brief as possible. Although by no means maternal she loved her children and enjoyed being with them and no doubt if Lord Randolph had been able to afford a country house of his own things would have been different. His wife did not like being beholden to other people, particularly those with whom she was not in sympathy, as is clearly illustrated in an early letter to her mother. I quite forget what it is like to be with people who love me. I do so long sometimes to have someone to whom I could go and talk to . . . The fact is 1 loathe living here. It is not on account of its dullness, that I don't mind, but it is gall and wormwood tome to accept anything or to be living on anyone I hate. It is no use disguising it, the Duchess hates me simply...

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