February 1, 2011

By Paul Jeeves

THE YORKSHIRE POST, 31 January 2011 – His reputation as one of Britain’s greatest ever Prime Ministers still holds true today decades after he led the country to victory against the Nazi threat.

2025 International Churchill Conference

Join us for the 42nd International Churchill Conference. Washington, DC | October 9-11, 2025

2025 International Churchill Conference

Winston Churchill’s death was marked with a state funeral, and millions of television viewers tuned in to see his final journey from Waterloo to Hanborough before being laid to rest on January 30, 1965.

The locomotive that hauled Churchill’s funeral train is now due to undergo a major restoration to mark the 50th anniversary of his death in 2015. The Friends of the National Railway Museum (NRM) have launched a fundraising campaign for the revamp of British Railways No. 3405, which is named after Churchill and is on display at the York museum.

It is hoped that £35,000 will be raised by the end of 2011, and fundraising events are being held nationally including a gala dinner at the NRM on April 9. James Lester, who was the fireman on Churchill’s funeral train, will be a special guest.

He said: “The steam days were always special to me, and my journey on the funeral train stands out in particular. My memories remain with me today and I am giving the proposed restoration of Winston Churchill to its former glory my full support.”

Tickets for the dinner cost £55 or £500 for a table of 10. For more details email [email protected] or call 01904 636874.

© The Yorkshire Post