Churchill silver salver being sold at Shropshire auction
A silver salver linked to Sir Winston Churchill is going under the hammer at an auction in Shrewsbury.
Bosses of fine art auction house Halls are hoping for further success with Churchill-related items when the salver goes up for sale.
Following the successful sale of letter signed by Churchill for £800 at the company's militaria auction last week, Halls has been given a salver to sell at its pictures, silver and jewellery sale on March 18.
The engraved salver, which is accompanied by a note signed by Britain's famous wartime Prime Minister, was presented in 1963 to P. W. Cox, retiring manager of Churchill's Chartwell estate near Westerham, Kent.
The note states: "With all good wishes Winston Churchill."
Maryanne Lineker-Mobberley, head Halls' silver and jewellery department, said: "The salver is being sold by the granddaughter of Mr Cox who lives in Shrewsbury.
"We expect it to sell well at auction due to its provenance, the signed note that accompanies it and the fact that this year is the 50th anniversary of Churchill's death."
The salver, which is hallmarked Carrington and Co, London 1961, is 31cms in diameter, weighs 28 ounces and is valued at up to £700.
Churchill and his wife Clementine bought Chartwell, their principal home, in 1922.
When it became clear to the Churchills in 1946 that they could not afford to run the property, a consortium of wealthy businessmen purchased the estate.
For a nominal rent the couple were allowed to live there until they both died, at which point the property would be presented to the National Trust.
When Churchill died on January 24, 1965, his widow decided to present Chartwell to the National Trust immediately.
The letter sold last week by Halls was written by Churchill whilst serving as Minister of Munitions in January 1918 and congratulated a subordinate in his department on being recognised with a CBE towards the end of the First World War.
The letter informed Henry Piggott, who received both the CBE and CB and was later knighted, that Churchill had recommended him to the Prime Minister for the award.
The auction on March 18 will be held in Battlefield at 10am.
