The Rt. Hon. Winston Churchill received a warm and enthusiastic welcome upon his arrival in Jamaica for a two-week vacation. Greeted by His Excellency the Governor Sir Hugh Foot, the Hon. Alexander Bustamante, and other dignitaries, the British Prime Minister inspected a police guard-of-honor and exchanged pleasantries with local officials. 

Published Saturday, January 10, 1953 

Smiling Churchill Here

Inspects Police Guard of Honour; makes quick tour
‘Nothing to say at this time’

THE Rt. Hon. Winston Churchill arrived in Jamaica yesterday afternoon to spend a two-week vacation. He was met on arrival by His Excellency the Governor, Sir Hugh Foot, the Hon. Alexander Bustamante, and other members of the Executive Council and went almost immediately to ‘Prospect,’ the Jamaica home of Sir Harold Mitchell, to spend his holiday.

The British Prime Minister was late in arrival. Travelling in the blue and silver “Independence,” the personal plane of the President of the United States, he touched down at Montego Bay airport at five minutes to 5 o’clock, was introduced to a group of personages, drove around the town, and then, after a short stop, drove on to St. Mary.

Security kept a tight screen around Mr. Churchill. Local police officers, acting on orders from the United Kingdom, endeavoured to keep away from the Prime Minister all persons other than those to whom he was to be introduced.

As a result, during Mr. Churchill’s stay at the Montego Bay airport and at the Bay Roe Hotel, where he started his journey to “Prospect,” only two press questions were asked of the Prime Minister.

The first was asked as he received a large box of Jamaican cigars from Mr. Bustamante when he was requested to say whether or not he would like to try one of the cigars the local “Prime Minister” was presenting to him. He said, “Yes.”

The second question was asked by an enterprising local newsman who broke through police … and walked with the Prime Minister to his car before Mr. Churchill began his tour of Montego Bay.

The question was: Did the Prime Minister discuss the McCarran Bill with General Eisenhower?
At first, Mr. Churchill said, “I can’t hear you.” The question was repeated. Mr. Churchill said, “I have nothing to say at this time.”
That was the scope of the press interview with Mr. Churchill, who looked pale but hearty in a blue-checked grey suit and was loudly cheered by the large crowd that had gathered at the Montego Bay airport to welcome him.

The Crowd Grows
From early in the afternoon, local security officers, pressmen, newsreel men, and local officials awaited the arrival of President Truman’s plane.

At first, the arrival time was given as 3:30 p.m. Then it became 4 p.m., next 4:30 p.m., and finally 5 p.m. Actually, the Prime Minister and his party arrived at 4:45 p.m.
A police guard-of-honor led by the police band was drawn up on the Reid. The Governor, with members of the Executive Council, waited at one section of the Reid, while local persons who were to meet him were in another.

As soon as the plane landed and the door was opened, two members of the crew came down to be met by local airport personnel. Then Mr. Churchill made his appearance.
Immediately, a cheer went up. He took off his hat, a grey black-banded homburg, and waved, but he was without his cigar and omitted to give the celebrated V sign, which many people expected.

Emerging unobtrusively from the plane, behind the Prime Minister and flanking the waiting pressmen and dignitaries as they walked, came two black-coated Scotland Yard men. One of them, Detective Inspector Davis, was carrying a cigar with about half an inch of ash in his hand.

It was Mr. Churchill’s cigar, which the Prime Minister had given the Yardman before leaving the plane. When Mr. Churchill met Mr. Bustamante and received the gift of cigars, he got a new cigar and was still smoking it with enjoyment when he arrived at Bay Roe.

On disembarking from the plane, the Prime Minister was met by the Governor and Sir Harold Mitchell. The Prime Minister then inspected the guard-of-honor formed by the police under Senior Assistant Superintendent Beatt and Assistant Superintendent Ricketts.

After the playing of the general salute, Mr. Churchill was introduced to Mr. Bustamante and received his gift of cigars. He was then introduced, in turn, to other members of the Executive Council, including the Hon. Sir Robert Barker, the Hon. T. R. Williams, and the Hon. Sir Harold Allan.

After this, he was introduced to the Hon. F. M. Kerr-Jarrett, Custos of St. James, who in turn, introduced him to the Hon. C. M. Pringle, Custos of St. Mary; the Hon. Colonel A. G. Curphey, Custos of St. Ann; and the Hon. Donat Delgado, Custos of Trelawny — the parishes through which he passed to reach “Prospect.”

Also introduced were the other members of the official Reception Committee: the Hon. B. C., O. B. Nation, M.L.C.; Mr. G. E. Waddington, Resident Magistrate; Mr. S. A. Scott, M.H.H.; Mr. A. G. S. Coombs, M.H.H.; Archdeacon Fox; Mr. W. G. S. Vernon, Chairman of the St. James Board; Mr. Amos Campbell, Vice-Chairman; Mr. Keith Armstrong, Secretary; Mr. Walter Fletcher, President of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce; and Mr. R. C. Clegg, Vice-President of the Chamber.
Mr. Churchill left the airport after these introductions in an open car for a short tour of Montego Bay.

Before leaving, he was also introduced to Mr. W. H. Richardson, BOAC manager in Montego Bay, and Mr. Peter Lopez, airport superintendent.

Besides the Yard men, Mr. Churchill’s party on the “Independence” included Captain Christopher Soames, his son-in-law; Captain Colville, his private secretary; two stenographers; and a valet. The plane was piloted by Colonel Frances Williams of the U. S. Air Force, who has piloted President Truman over the past five years.

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