Winston Churchill Pass by the wood drives the book of Albuquerque

Miguel Albuquerque launches this Thursday the book "Winston Churchill in Madeira", 144 pages, each copy costing 18 euros.

The book will be presented at the Madeira Press Museum in Câmara de Lobos and the presentation of the works to be held on November 29th at 18:00 will be the responsibility of Islenha magazine director Marcelino de Castro.

The publisher reveals that there is an unpublished book written by Miguel Albuquerque, president of the regional government, which also has two other works published by Alêtheia Editores. Case of "Old Rose Garden" and "Chronicles of a Common Place". It is prefaced by João Carlos Espada and relates to the stay of Churchill on the island.

This bilingual book (in Portuguese and English) tells the historical journey of the most important politician of the 20th century, accompanied by several unpublished photographs. Accompanied by his wife and lodged at the Reid's Hotel, Churchill has marked history during his 12 days spent at this hotel. He arrived aboard the ship Urban Castle and went to England to run for office.

Two years later, he became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. In the island of Madeira, it has aroused a legitimate curiosity of all Madeira. He wrote his memoirs and painted one of his most famous paintings, "Câmara de Lobos, the fishing port of Madeira".

12 days of mediation on the island

Winston Churchill has greatly contributed to the development of tourism on the island of Madeira. The famous British Prime Minister of the Second World War spent 12 days on holiday in Madeira in January 1950 and left deep marks on tourism in the region.

The name of the statesman is one of the most evoked in the council of Câmara de Lobos, west of Funchal, with regard to the illustrious figures. The photographs that show him painting the bay and the islet have become a brand and the point of view on which he mounted the easel now bears his name.

"Churchill's visit to Madeira at the invitation of Reid's (Palace Hotel) was a marketing campaign, as the English were the main guests of the hotel." The initiative had a great impact and the hotel, in the 50s and 60s, is back in the golden age, with the presence of many celebrities, "said historian Alberto Vieira in Lusa on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his died in 2015.

According to Alberto Vieira, "the history of Madeira is not so much for natives as for foreigners, as they are often the ones who contribute the most to Madeira's claim in the world." one of them.His presence has had a significant impact on tourism and (…) it has borne fruit that still remains a gadget. "

The Reid & # 39; s Palace Hotel sent this invitation in the summer of 1949 to mark the reopening after the Second World War. Winston Churchill arrived on the island on 1 January 1950 aboard the ship "Durban Castle". He was accompanied by his wife, eldest daughter, two secretaries, a personal servant and a bodyguard, as well as Colonel Frederick Deakin, who advised him in drafting memories.

"The way Madeira received this great character is well expressed in the advertisement of the famous photograph of photographer Raul Perestrelo, in which Churchill sits on a gazebo painting the bay of Câmara de Lobos," said Alberto Vieira. noting, however, that the purpose of this operation was to "rest and go unnoticed".

"I do not know if he received an official reception from the local authorities because I think he wanted it, otherwise it is natural that they pay tribute," he said. historian.

The presence of Winston Churchill in Madeira, however, has been widely publicized in the local press. "Obviously, even if he wanted to, he did not go unnoticed – he was the equivalent of a" super vedeta "nowadays," said Alberto Vieira.

Winston Churchill was received by the Consul of England in Madeira and by one of the directors of Reid's Palace. According to testimonials from the visit, during his trip to the hotel, he said: "Many people around the world have greeted me for doing something but never in my life I have been received with such enthusiasm by people for whom I have never done anything. "

Once installed, he remained largely in the room because of bad weather.

On January 7, 1950, the Câmara de Lobos, seven kilometers west of Funchal, went to a Rolls Royce car of the Leacock family. In a corner, at the entrance to the village, he mounted the easel and canvas, sat down and painted the bay and the island. The photographer Raul Perestrelo has immortalized the moment and, for the moment, the place is designated by Miradouro Winston Churchill.

Winston Churchill was to remain in Madeira until January 16, 1950, but changed for day 12 due to the prospect of general elections in England for February of the same year. He departed the island aboard a seaplane from the English company "Aquila Airways", bringing his wife and daughter back on the originally scheduled date.

Winston Churchill died on January 24, 1965 at the age of 95. British Prime Minister twice (1940-1945 and 1951-1955) he entered history as one of the greatest state men of the twentieth century. In 1953, he received the Nobel Prize for Literature.