Features / Blitz
Churchill as chancellor
While Winston Churchill is best known for his wartime contribution, as immortalised in new film Darkest Hour, his connection to The University of Bristol is a fascinating story.
Churchill was the third chancellor of The University of Bristol throughout the war, and remains the university’s longest-standing chancellor: from 1929 until his death in 1965. Despite enduring an incredibly turbulent and defining time in history, the British leader’s loyalty to the university was everlasting.
Having not attended university himself, there was initial controversy over his appointment, though Churchill won the hearts of students from the very start and proved to be extremely popular. He was even carried on their shoulders through the streets of Bristol after his installation ceremony on December 13 1929.
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Churchill and crowds of students at his installation ceremony, December 13 1929
Once they’d arrived at the Victoria Rooms, home to the Student’s Union at the time, Churchill took part in a mock trial where he was arrested, tried and imprisoned for failing to provide the students with tea and buns. Students’ appetite for free food and love for tea clearly spans generations.
After Churchill addressed students at Colston Hall in November 1954, the Lady President of the Student’s Union presented him with a surprise gift of a silver salver
The university stood by their chancellor throughout the 1930s and he was always appreciative of their support, despite his preoccupation with reviving his career in government. Once Prime Minister, Churchill kept in contact with the university during the Second World War via his cabinet colleague and local man, Ernest Bevin.
When the Wills Memorial building was damaged by incendiary bombs in 1940, he wrote a letter of commiseration to Thomas Loveday, who was then vice-chancellor of the university.
Churchill sent his condolences after a German air raid caused extensive damage to the Wills building
In 1941, Churchill attended an honorary degree service at the university despite its plans to abolish ceremonies during the war. At Churchill’s request, Robert Menzies, the Prime Minister of Australia who was visiting Britain at the time, and John Winant, the newly appointed American ambassador, were bestowed honorary degrees in an attempt to encourage the development of international relations.
Unfortunately, the night before the event, Bristol was hit with its worst air raid yet, and the Wills Memorial Building suffered further damage. Despite the devastation, which resulted in a ton of rubble and what turned out to be an unexploded bomb being cleared from the hall, Churchill insisted that the ceremony go ahead in the hall’s smaller but unscathed reception room.
Churchill addressing the degree congregation in the damaged Great Hall, April 21 1945
Crowds gathered outside to cheer the emerging graduates and university officers, moving Churchill to tears as he was overcome by this show of support. He is said to have concealed his tears by shielding his face with a newspaper.
Churchill outside the Wills Memorial building, after the honorary degree ceremony, June 21 1946
Despite having a full programme of celebrations for his 80th birthday in London, Churchill, to the exasperation of his government colleagues, spent time in Bristol to coincide with the completion of the Queen’s Building, which is now home to part of the engineering department.
Churchill addressing the audience at the laying of the foundation stone at the Queen’s Building, December 14 1951
Despite this long-seated connection with Bristol, Churchill’s contribution to the university has been largely consigned to the history books. A commemorative plaque hangs in the Great Hall of the Wills Memorial building, unveiled by Churchill’s youngest and last-surviving child in 2009.
All images courtesy of Special Collections, University of Bristol.
Read more: 21 photos of the devastation caused by the Bristol blitz
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