‘Save the White House!’

     

“We shape our buildings and afterwards our buildings shape us.”

Winston Churchill

1943

At Magpie Headquarters, Professor Pan's portrait of Winston Churchill looms above my desk, reminding me of my inadequacies in perpetuity.

And speaking of beer (see post below), there is a movement in Bladon, England to preserve, protect, and defend the White House.

That’s the local pub where Bro. Winston Churchill is said to have learned to drink—like he wouldn’t have figured it out anyway—and that had been purchased by these guys, arousing neighbors’ fears that the historic site could be closed and the land converted to another use. Bladon is a village of less than a thousand inhabitants, and this pub, dating to the 16^th century, is the center of activity there. The White House is listed for sale now, and the neighbors are attempting to raise the needed money to purchase it and operate it as a community resource. They have until March to raise half a million pounds, but it is not looking favorable.

Supporters have the options of buying shares (£50 each) and/or donating money toward the effort.

The share buy-in closing date is January 31. Click here to read the prospectus.

To donate, click here.

Courtesy Art Daily

Winston Churchill’s Masonic apron.

Bro. Churchill was initiated into Studholme Lodge 1591 (now United Studholme Alliance Lodge 1591) on May 24, 1901. He was passed to the second degree July 19, and was raised a Master Mason on March 5, 1902.

Courtesy UGLE

Bust of Sir Winston Churchill by Jacob Epstein. In 2019, the United Grand Lodge of England received the loan of this sculpture for an initial five-year period, and it can be seen inside the Tower Entrance of Freemasons’ Hall, near the ground floor cloakrooms. Between 10 and 16 casts of the bronze are believed to exist, including one given to the White House (the one in Washington, DC!) in 1965.