Sir Winston in his prime - by David Fisher

SIR WINSTON IN HIS PRIME – by David Fisher

During the early days of world war II, as the Nazi hoards swept though France, Belgium, and the lowland countries, Great Britain stood alone as democracy’s only hope. 

  Many nights England’s prime minister, Winston Churchill, would attempt to relieve the incredible pressure he felt of having half the population of the world depending on him to protect their lives and freedom by getting so rip-roaring drunk he could not stand up.

Late one such night, as he drained still another bottle of his favourite port, a guest at Sand Hurst, Lady Elizabeth Tyson, happened upon him.  

“Oh, Mr. Prime Minister,” she said sadly, “why must you drink so?”

With bleary eyes, Churchill glanced up at her from his position on the carpet and explained, 

“My dear lady, I drink to forget”.

 “But to forget what?”

Churchill hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he tried to concentrate.  Finally he admitted, “I forget”.  

With that, he smiled broadly, threw his arms high into the air, and shouted gleefully, 

“By Jove!  It’s working!”