Winston Churchill (1940–2010) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Winston Churchill
Churchill in 1997
Member of Parliament for Davyhulme
In office 9 June 1983 – 8 April 1997
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Member of Parliament for Stretford
In office 18 June 1970 – 13 May 1983
Preceded by	Ernest Arthur Davies
Succeeded by	Tony Lloyd
Personal details
Born	Winston Spencer Churchill (1940-10-10)10 October 1940 Chequers, Buckinghamshire, England
Died	2 March 2010(2010-03-02) (aged 69) Belgravia, London, England
Resting place	St. Martin's Churchyard, Bladon, Oxfordshire, England
Political party	Conservative
Spouses	Minnie Caroline d'Erlanger ​ ​ (m. 1964; dissolved 1997)​ Luce Engelen ​ (m. 1997)​
Children	4
Parents	Randolph Churchill Pamela Digby
Relatives	Winston Churchill (paternal grandfather) Clementine Churchill (paternal grandmother) Arabella Churchill (paternal half-sister)
Alma mater	Christ Church, Oxford

Winston Spencer Churchill (born October 10, 1940 – died March 2, 2010) was an English politician. He was a member of the Conservative Party. He was also the grandson of the famous British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. To tell them apart, he was often called Winston Churchill MP during his time in public life. His father, Randolph Churchill, was also a Member of Parliament.

Early Life and Education

Winston Churchill was born on October 10, 1940, at Chequers in Buckinghamshire, England. This was during the Second World War. He went to Ludgrove, Harrow School, and then studied at Christ Church, Oxford university. His famous grandfather passed away in 1965, and his father died three years later.

Career as a Journalist

Winston (right), his father, and grandfather in ceremonial robes

Before he became a politician, Winston Churchill worked as a journalist. He reported from many different places around the world.

He covered the Six-Day War in the Middle East. During this time, he met many important Israeli politicians. He even wrote a book about the war. In the 1960s, he reported on conflicts in Yemen and Borneo. He also covered the Vietnam War.

In 1968, he visited Czechoslovakia to report on the Prague Spring. Later that year, he was in Chicago for the 1968 Democratic National Convention. He reported on the events there.

In the early 1970s, he saw the effects of war and famine in Biafra, Nigeria. He was very upset by the bombing of innocent people. He also reported from places like China and Portugal during the Carnation Revolution. Like others in his family, he also gave speeches in the United States.

Political Journey

Winston Churchill wanted to follow in his grandfather's footsteps in politics. He tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) for the first time in 1967. Even though he didn't win that election, he kept working towards his goal.

Becoming an MP

In 1970, he was elected as the MP for Stretford, a place near Manchester. As an MP, he was part of the parliamentary ski team and led the Commons Flying Club. He worked closely with Julian Amery, a government minister.

He later became a spokesperson for defence policy. He was known for speaking his mind strongly.

Representing Davyhulme

In 1983, due to changes in election areas, he became the MP for Davyhulme. He held this seat until 1997. Even though he was well-known because of his family, he never held a very high position in the government. He mostly worked as a backbencher, which means he was a regular MP without a special role in the government. His cousin, Nicholas Soames, also became a Conservative MP.

Later Public Work

After leaving Parliament in 1997, Winston Churchill became a popular speaker. He wrote many articles supporting the Iraq War and the fight against Islamic terrorism. He also put together a book of his grandfather's famous speeches called Never Give In. He was involved with a group called the UK National Defence Association. He also helped the National Benevolent Fund for the Aged, which supports older people.

In 1995, he and his family sold a large collection of his grandfather's papers. These important historical documents were bought by Churchill College, Cambridge using money from the National Lottery.

Family Life

Winston Churchill was the son of Randolph Churchill and Pamela Digby. His parents divorced in 1945. His father later married June Osborne, and they had a daughter named Arabella Churchill. His mother married W. Averell Harriman, who was a United States ambassador.

Winston Churchill married Mary "Minnie" Caroline d'Erlanger in 1964. They had four children, including a son also named Randolph. His second marriage was to Luce Engelen, a jewellery maker, in 1997. They were married until his death.

Ancestry

Later Years and Passing

Churchill's grave at St Martin's Church, Bladon

Winston Churchill lived in Belgravia, London. He passed away on March 2, 2010, at the age of 69. He had been ill with prostate cancer for two years. On March 9, he was buried in the family burial ground at St Martin’s Church in Bladon, near Woodstock, Oxfordshire.