(One of a series of weekday posts on the life of Winston S. Churchill.)
A story today that I hope makes you smile. While I can’t cite a source confirming that Churchill heard it, I feel sure he did. It’s an old story that’s floated around London for a very long time. And it’s just the sort of story Churchill loved.
In his lifetime the Carlton Club was one of London’s most exclusive and expensive private clubs as it is today. It has a strong Conservative Party connection going back to the 19th century. At the club’s website we read:
Today the Club continues to support the Party in many ways but the hub of the Party is now based in Victoria Street. The Carlton Club remains, however, the Conservative Club. (emphasis Carlton’s)Well the story goes that during one session of Parliament a Labour MP from the Midlands took rooms a few miles from Westminster Palace. In nice weather, he’d walk there.
One day as he was passing the Carlton Club he had an urgent need to use the bathroom. So in he went.
Afterwards he freshened up using the clubs soaps and towels; and then was on his way.
He took to doing this just about every day and soon members noticed. They complained to the club’s governors.
The governors instructed the doorman to tell the Labour member he wasn't welcome to use the club’s bathroom.
So the next day as the MP was about to enter the club the doorman did as instructed. “I’m sorry, Sir, but the governors of this private club say they don’t want you coming in here.”
“Really? This is also a club?”
I hope you’re smiling.
1 comments:
Thanks John,
Is it good news that he is right about something?
Are you certain you should mark that post as an "error"?
I was thinking you should try writing a clarification, for those that misread your post, followed with a non-apology. If that doesn't work, just tell them the dog ate the good parts.
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