Pencil drawing evokes politics of 1950s
A fascinating drawing signed by politician Harold Macmillan goes under the hammer at Chilcotts Auctioneers sale on March 7.
The picture by amateur artist Miriam Cozens depicts an historic scene at the House of Commons; the day that Winston Churchill made his final major speech as Prime Minister.
Known as ‘Never Despair’ the speech talks about the divisions that set in after the end of the Second World War, the hostility between East and West and the threat of the nuclear bomb. In his two final sentences Churchill made a farewell to the House and the British people. He said:
“The day may dawn when fair play, love for one’s fellow-men, respect for justice and freedom, will enable tormented generations to march forth serene and triumphant from the hideous epoch in which we have to dwell. Meanwhile, never flinch, never weary, never despair.”
Dated March 1 1955, the date of the speech and presumably the day it was drawn, the detailed sketch shows many of the well-known politicians of the day including Clement Attlee, Christopher Soames and a young Ted Heath. Harold Macmillan’s signature can be seen just above the artist’s signature. He would go on to become Prime Minister in 1957.
Auctioneer Duncan Chilcott said: “This is a lovely find as the drawing had been kept in a private home and has never been on public view; it offers someone the opportunity of owning a little piece of British history.
“The picture shows a very different picture to the House of Commons today - my wife Liz pointed out that there are no women to be seen at all!”
The sketch was discovered during a house clearance in Tiverton and is from the estate of the artist herself. Tricky to value, it has been estimated at between a very affordable £50 and £70.
