The Churchill Archives Centre in Cambridge holds the personal papers of Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and many of their contemporaries.

Join Allen Packwood OBE, the Centre’s Director, as he opens the Churchill despatch box and tells the stories revealed in some of his favourite documents. This will be an opportunity to find out more about Churchill the man, helping to set his paintings in the wider context of his whole life and career. But Allen promises that there will also be a glimpse inside the famous Thatcher handbag!

About the speaker: Allen Packwood BA, MPhil (Cantab), is a Fellow of Churchill College at the University of Cambridge, the Director of the Churchill Archives Centre, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He was awarded an OBE for services to archives and scholarship in the 2016 Queen’s Birthday Honours. His book, How Churchill Waged War, was published by Pen & Sword in 2018 and he has recently edited the Cambridge University Press Companion to Winston Churchill and co-edited Letters for the Ages: The Private and Personal Letters of Sir Winston Churchill. His latest book is Churchill’s D-Day, co-authored with General Lord Dannatt and published for the 80th anniversary of Operation Overlord in June 2024.

The Churchill Archives Centre is located in the grounds of Churchill College, and is home to the papers of Sir Winston Churchill, Baroness Thatcher, Sir John Major and almost seven hundred of their contemporaries: politicians, diplomats, civil servants, military leaders and scientists of the modern era. It is still collecting. Allen likes to joke that it is the equivalent of four American Presidential Libraries! He is responsible for the overall management of the team and collections.

Take part at the museum: Join us at the museum for this special talk, followed by drinks and a visit to our exhibition Winston Churchill: The Painter until 20.45.

Watch online: This talk will also be broadcast live from the museum. Online ticketholders will be emailed a link to join 24 hours in advance. Ticketholders will also receive a link to view a recording of the talk, which will be available for two weeks.