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Winston Churchill’s Gifts to Staff: Ivor Adamson

Ivor Adamson worked at No. 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister’s residence for 23 years.

He served under Sir Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden, Harold MacMillan, Sir Alec Douglas Home, Sir Harold Wilson and Edward Heath. He looked after the heating, lighting and ventilation for numbers 10 & 11 Downing Street.

Here we have a collection of memorabilia given to him by Winston Churchill, many of which relate to Churchill’s retirement in 1955 when he presented staff with memorabilia such as a signed photograph and the specially commissioned Cartier silver pendant.

The list of items belonging to Ivor Adamson:

• a Cartier silver pendant (only 113 were made for Churchill to distribute to all his staff upon his retirement in 1955) in the original red box. This small pendant’s diameter measures ~2.2cm (7/8″).
• a signed photo of Churchill by Vivienne – original handwritten signature (also given to all of his employees)
• a facsimile note from Churchill
• an invitation to his 80th birthday presentation
• a photo of Churchill’s 80th birthday cake***
• photographs of Winston’s & Lady Churchill’s bedrooms

***This photo was taken on Nov. 30th, 1954, the day of Churchill’s 80th birthday celebration. The birthday cake was on display in the Private Dining Room where Churchill and his family dined. Adamson writes, on p41 of his memoirs:

“This cake stood on a sloping base about two feet in diameter in the front of which was an embossed message reading ‘MANY THANKS FOR YOUR INSPIRATION DURING THE DARK DAYS OF THE WAR.’ The remainder of the base was filled with eighty chocolate cigars which had their ends dipped in grey icing to represent the ash of the cigar.”

Also included is Ivor Adamson’s memoirs (54 pages) and a newspaper clipping from Dec. 10th, 1976 entitled: ‘Prime Minister’ of electricians’ life at No. 10

Adamson’s Memoirs are particularly interesting; retracing his life before working at No. 10 which he joined in 1952. 23 years later, upon his retirement he received the Imperial Service Medal.

Item #107