Winston Churchill memorabilia found in old jigsaw box

Winston Churchill’s chauffeur’s fascinating archive including police instructions on where to pick up the PM during WWII are discovered in JIGSAW box about to be thrown away

  • Forgotten stash of wartime memorabilia found in jigsaw box set to be thrown out
  • Collection includes instructions on where and when the PM was to be picked up
  • The archive is expected to fetch up to £350 when it goes on auction July 16-20 

A fascinating collection of Winston Churchill memorabilia, including instructions on where to pick him up and rare photos was discovered in a jigsaw box after it was about to thrown away. 

The items belonging to Reginald Parker, personal chauffeur to the British Prime Minister during World War Two, were found by a 60-year-old clerk who was clearing his cupboards and drawers while he was on furlough.  

The collection is up for auction and is expected to fetch up to £350 when it goes under the hammer on July 16-20.

An incredible collection of wartime memorabilia collected by Winston Churchill’s chauffeur has been found in a jigsaw box destined for the bin

The collection included a portrait of Winston Churchill with his signature attached

The collection included a portrait of Winston Churchill with his signature attached

The incredible collection includes Post Office telegraphs and instructions from 10 Downing Street and the MET dictating when and where the Prime Minister must be picked up. 

One note says: ‘The Prime Minister will arrive tomorrow by air at Hendon Aerodrome. Please have police car in readiness.’

The memorabilia also includes black and white photos of Mr Parker, including one of him sitting behind the wheel of Churchill’s limousine.

The owner of the archive, who did not wish to be named, said: ‘I’m on furlough and I’ve been sorting out cupboards and wardrobes.

‘I saw a jigsaw box in my study and just thought it was one of my many jigsaws.

Long-serving chauffeur: Reginald Parker, pictured sat outside Number 10, lived in Buckinghamshire and retired at the age of 64 in 1949 after serving five British prime ministers during a 24-year career

Long-serving chauffeur: Reginald Parker, pictured sat outside Number 10, lived in Buckinghamshire and retired at the age of 64 in 1949 after serving five British prime ministers during a 24-year career

Close up: The grainy black and white photos in the archive show Mr Parker sitting behind the wheel of Churchill's limo outside 10 Downing Street

Close up: The grainy black and white photos in the archive show Mr Parker sitting behind the wheel of Churchill’s limo outside 10 Downing Street

URGENT. METROPOLITAN POLICE TELEPHONE 

From Mr Bailey 10 Downing Street 

The Prime Minister will arrive tomorrow by air at Hendon Aerodrome. Please have police car in readiness. If the weather is inclement tomorrow the Prime Minister will arrive on Sunday morning at 7.30am either at King’s Cross or Euston. Further particulars later.

‘But, when I opened the lid, I found the archive. I’d forgotten all about it.

‘I saved it from going to the tip during a house clearance in the late 1990s.

‘It used to belong to my mother-in-law’s partner whose surname was Parker. When he died, I helped to clear his bungalow in Hilton, Derbyshire.’ 

‘I stumbled across the paperwork and photos when I opened an old suitcase in the loft.

‘Nobody wanted it and it was going to be chucked away. But I’m fascinated by history and decided to take it home.

‘When I rediscovered it, I decided it was time to find out if it was important. 

‘I’ve always wondered if there is some key information in there, a piece of history that’s missing. 

 ‘I’ve visited the Churchill War Rooms in London. Perhaps it should be there. It would be lovely if it went to a museum.’

Mr Parker lived in Buckinghamshire and retired at the age of 64 in 1949 after serving five British prime ministers during a 24-year career.

Telegrams and written instructions from the MET Police dictating when and where the PM should be picked up were found in the jigsaw box

Telegrams and written instructions from the MET Police dictating when and where the PM should be picked up were found in the jigsaw box

Instructions from Downing Street were also found in the historical stash which give an insight into some of Chruchill's movements during the war

Instructions from Downing Street were also found in the historical stash which give an insight into some of Chruchill’s movements during the war

Hansons Auctioneers owner Charles Hanson said: ‘Jigsaws have proved phenomenally popular during lockdown and it seems apt that an archive relating to British leaders who served during previous turbulent times in history has been found in a jigsaw box.

‘The fascinating archive provides an insight into the daily lives of some of the most famous names in British political history and highlights the part played by a devoted chauffeur.

‘The timings indicate that Parker transported Churchill around London during the Second World War.

‘No doubt, they got to know each other well. It’s telling that one of the items in Reginald’s long-lost archive is a photo of Churchill with the iconic leader’s signature attached to it.

‘We believe the gentleman whose loft it was found in some 20 years ago was Reginald Parker’s relative, possibly his son.’

Mr Hanson added that it would be good for the collection to be preserved in a war museum.  

Reginald Parker, personal chauffeur to Winston Churchill, seen leaning against a wall with a pipe in his mouth

Reginald Parker, personal chauffeur to Winston Churchill, seen leaning against a wall with a pipe in his mouth

Charles Hanson of Hansons Auctioneers hopes that the collection is preserved in a war museum

Charles Hanson of Hansons Auctioneers hopes that the collection is preserved in a war museum