Churchill’s cigar to light up Shropshire auction
It is a half-smoked cigar discarded by a certain Winston Churchill – and now it is set to raise more than £1,000 at auction.
Sir Winston was on his voyage aboard HMS Duke of York in 1941 to meet President Roosevelt when the cigar was thrown away.
It was collected by the Rev Robert Rowland Evans while he was the ship’s chaplain and is now being offered at Trevanion and Dean’s next auction in Whitchurch on Saturday.
Auctioneer Aaron Dean said: “This particular cigar comes from an incredibly important point in our modern history. Churchill was sailing with his chief of staff and military advisors to meet with Roosevelt following the attack on Pearl Harbour and America’s entry into the Second World War to support the allies.
“The cigar is something we all instantly associate with Churchill.
"Throughout his political career he was practically inseparable from his cigars, and here is a rare opportunity to be able to own one of Churchill’s personal cigars.
"Other Churchill cigars have been offered on the open market but none from such a pivotal period in our history.”
The lot is accompanied by a handwritten note explaining the circumstances of its acquisition and a copy of the interview with Mr Roberts.
The famous leader summed up his love of cigars when he said: “Smoking cigars is like falling in love. First, you are attracted by its shape; you stay for its flavour, and you must always remember never, never to let the flame go out.”
