From Winston with Love and Kisses: The Young Churchill

BRIGHTON 1884-1888

BRIGHTON 1884-1888 After the unhappy start to Winston's formal education , Lord and Lady Randolph decided to adopt a completely different approach in the selection of their son's new school. Where St George's was fashionable and pretentious, with the headmaster's coat of arms displayed over the front door, the establishment they chose in Brighton was so lacking in pretension that it did not even have a name, just an address, 29-30 Brunswick Road, Hove. In contrast to the sadistic and disciplinarian Sneyd-Kynnersley, the new school was run by two kind unmarried ladies, Kate and Charlotte Thomson. There is no doubt that, apart from the healthy sea air, the reason for this unusual choice of school was the fact that Dr Robson Roose, the Churchills' family doctor, had his main practice in Brighton and he was therefore able to keep a close watch on Winston whose health was giving cause for concern. Indeed, had his parents chosen a more spartan environment further removed from the attentions of their own doctor, it is unlikely that Winston would have survived the near-fatal illness which was to strike him down eighteen months after his arrival at Brunswick Road. Winston's recollection of his time at Brighton was much happier than his memories of St George's . . . there was an element of kindness and of sympathy which I had found completely lacking in my first experiences . . . At this school I was allowed to learn things which interested me: French, History, lots of Poetry by heart, and above all Riding and Swimming. The impression of those years makes a pleasant picture in my mind, in strong contrast to my earlier schoolday memories . . . Winston's first term at Brighton, although marred by ill-health, went smoothly enough. He wrote to Lady Randolph about his interest in stamps probably to justify his request for more money. 21 % lUVntwAt* Ottis& ink cfeaA Jna/TrvYnxL, e^fri&riJiXfvnt; fhajve Sought 0, l(nse£ty MhJYnfo* Sooh-. vr\CL JfrnlW -isrutcnr\. V xvv 62 oJVL - ~ > £ - ^ T)r\JUL&Aj «fo^ "Wx^ 63 1884 Above: Lord Randolph Opposite: Winston andJack While Winston was settling into his new school, his father's political career was gaining pace. His position in the Conservative Party and his popularity in the country could no longer be ignored. As a result of an informal agreement with Lord Salisbury, the Tory leader, Lord Randolph set off on a tour of India in December. This was to serve two purposes, to restore his failing health on the long sea voyages and to acquaint him with India and its problems, in preparation for his entry into the next Conservative government as Secretary of State for India. Lady Randolph took Winston and Jack to see him off. Winston returned to Brighton for the last two weeks of term. He wrote to his father. Dec. 5th, 1884 Brighton My dear Papa I hope you had a good passage and were not sick at all on board? Was it rough at all? I should like to be you on that beautiful ship. We went and had some Turtel soup after you went, so we did not do amiss. We saw your big ship steaming out of harbour as we were in the train. I cannot think of anything more to say. With love and kisses I remain yours affect Winston P.S. I had not any foriegn Paper, so you must excuse me. Lady Randolph was concerned that she might not be H able to control Winston during the Christmas holidays.£$-£Xl J ~~ 10 u Li Mrs Everest» loved and confided in by her charges, was by now indispensable to her employer who wrote to Lord - » i Randolph . . . The children have both gone - 1 shall have /UajM/yrf Jack back before Xmas as I eld not undertake to manage Winston without Everest - I am afraid even she cant do it. . . S3. 'j^ktUallon &W-? . ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Wlx^ It TUHxah aiaJJLf &&***&, 64 1884 M B , . :*•:•• „ v 65 1884 At home or at school Winston was obviously a handful. Just before the Christmas holidays he was involved in a scrape which caused Miss Thomson to write to Lady Randolph. 29 Brunswick Road Dec. 17th Dear Lady Randolph Churchill Soon after writing to you this morning, 1 was called to see Winston who was in a trouble that might have proved very serious. He was at work in a drawing examination, and some dispute seems...