7 October 2021

CHURCHILL AND FREEDOM

The Thirty-Eighth International Churchill Conference

London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square • October 7–9, 2021

The International Churchill Society was proud to host the Thirty-Eighth International Churchill Conference under the theme Churchill and Freedom, held in London and broadcast worldwide from October 7–9, 2021. This landmark gathering marked ICS’s first-ever hybrid conference, combining in-person events with a global virtual audience.

Conference Highlights

Thursday, October 7

The conference opened with an exclusive evening reception at the RAF Club in London. Attendees were welcomed by members of the Churchill family before enjoying a spirited discussion between Celia Sandys (author of Churchill: Wanted Dead or Alive) and Candice Millard (author of Hero of the Empire) on Churchill’s dramatic escape from Boer captivity. They were joined in conversation by Lord Boateng, Chairman of the Sir Winston Churchill Archive Trust and former UK High Commissioner to South Africa.

Friday, October 8

The first full day of sessions combined live and streamed programming. Highlights included:

• Professor James Muller introducing and discussing his definitive new edition of Churchill’s The River War, with contributions from Dr Piers Brendon, Brough Scott, and others.
• A special address by Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor and 38th Governor of California, reflecting on how Churchill has influenced his own life and leadership.
• The presentation of the Churchill Awards, honoring those who embody Churchillian values today.

The day concluded with a black-tie optional Gala Dinner for in-person delegates—a fitting celebration after a day of rich discussion.

Saturday, October 9

The final day featured live sessions from both America’s National Churchill Museum at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, and the National Churchill Leadership Center at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. These sessions explored Churchill’s role in pivotal events of 1921 and their lasting impact on freedom in Ireland and the Middle East.

The conference closed with a Pol Roger reception and buffet dinner for VIP conference package holders, blending fellowship with reflection on Churchill’s legacy of freedom.

A Conference of Firsts

The 38th International Churchill Conference was a milestone for ICS: the first hybrid conference, uniting audiences in London with participants around the world. With unforgettable contributions from scholars, authors, Churchill’s family, and special guest Arnold Schwarzenegger, the gathering reinforced Churchill’s enduring relevance to questions of freedom in the modern age.

Conference Highlights