The 38th International Churchill Conference will be our first virtual and in-person conference, taking place online and live in London.

Churchill and Freedom

October 7-9, London

To purchase tickets in British pounds (GBP), please click here.

The main conference sessions will take place on Friday 8 October and Saturday 9 October at the London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, commencing 14:00 (BST)/ 09:00 (EDT) and will be broadcast. Conference sessions will be hosted by Katherine Carter (Chartwell Curator) and Catherine Katz (author of ‘The Daughters of Yalta’). Please note that not all speakers will be appearing in London in person, some will be presenting virtually (details to be confirmed).

Conference program (all times in British Summer Time):

Thursday 7 October:

• 18:30: Drinks Reception, RAF Club, 128 Piccadilly, London W1J 7PY for in-person attendees only

Friday 8 October:

• 14:00: conference opened by co-hosts Katherine Carter and Catherine Grace Katz

• 14:15: Personal Freedom: Churchill and South Africa, 1899Session moderated by The Rt. Hon. Lord Boateng, former British Cabinet Minister and High Commissioner to South Africa. Presentations by The Hon. Celia Sandys (author of Churchill: Wanted Dead or Alive and Churchill’s granddaughter) and Candice Millard (author of Hero of the Empire: The Making of Winston Churchill).

• 15:10: Brough Scott MBE (author of Churchill at the Gallop) to present on what it would have been like to ride as a 21st Lancer in the Sudan.

• 15:30: Launch of new edition of Churchill’s The River War. Professor James Muller (editor of the definitive new edition of The River War) in conversation with Dr Piers Brendon (author of Winston Churchill: A Brief Life and former Keeper of the Churchill Archives Centre).

• 16:35: Presenting History: The Past, Present and Future of Churchill Exhibitions. Katherine Carter (Property Curator at Chartwell), in conversation with Kate Ballenger (Keeper of Palace and Collections at Blenheim), Dr Rob Havers, (President/ CEO of the American Civil War Museum) and Dr Xavier Bray (Director of the Wallace Collection).

• 17:30: Making History – Dan Snow (historian and television presenter).

• 18:30: Keynote: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (actor and former politician and Governor of California).

• 19:30: Presentation of Churchill Awards and launch of International Competition

• 19:45: End of livestream for the day.

• 20:30: Dinner at Grosvenor Marriott for delegates attending in person. Introductory remarks on wines by James Simpson (Managing Director of Pol Roger UK).

Saturday 9 October

• 14:00: Welcome by conference presenters Catherine Grace Katz and Katherine Carter.

• 14:15: The Churchill daughters at War – launch of Mary Churchill’s War (the edited diaries of Lady Soames). The Hon. Emma Soames and others in conversation with Catherine Grace Katz (author of Daughters of Yalta)

• 15:10: “Remember gentlemen, it's not just France we are fighting for, it's Champagne." Churchill, Champagne and the resistance in Epernay during the First and Second World Wars.” Dr Charlotte Jones (Pol Roger, UK).

• 16:00: The Atlantic Charter – its historic significance and legacy. A special panel broadcast from America’s National Churchill Museum.Tim Riley (Sandra L. and Monroe E. Trout Director and Chief Curator of America’s National Churchill Museum) in conversation with Dr Karin von Hippel (Director-General, Royal United Services Institute), and others.

• 17:00: Alliance – scenes from a new play about Churchill at the White House presented by Julia Holofcener and Graham Pountney

• 17:40: Defending Freedom Today. A special panel broadcast from the National Churchill Leadership Center. Justin Reash (Executive Director of the International Churchill Society US and Program Director of the National Churchill Leadership Center) in conversation with Omar Mohammed (historian, George Washington University, Program on Extremism).

• 18:30: The inaugural Stephen and Jane Poss Distinguished Churchill Lecture. Stephen Poss to introduce Professor Andrew Roberts (historian and author Churchill: Walking with Destiny)on ‘Churchill and Russia: Opportunism or Consistency?’

• 19:25: Closing Remarks: Randolph Churchill (President of the International Churchill Society and great-grandson of Sir Winston Churchill)

• 20:30: Dinner at Grosvenor Marriott for delegates attending in person.

For those attending in person: The organising committee looks forward to welcoming you to London and finally gathering in person. However, the pandemic has impacted our offerings and may yet cause further alterations to our plans. As a result, we are hosting a full program at the Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square which also leaves time for delegates to engage in their own exploration of the historic sites of London.

All delegates are responsible for making their own travel arrangements and booking accommodation. Discounted accommodation can be booked at the London Marriott Grosvenor Square by quoting this reference.