Browse Sections

• Rochdale 150
• Useful information
• Nostalgia 
• Looking back
• Rochdale canal
• Web links
• Family notices
• Property price guide
• Traffic cameras
• Travel news
• Speed cameras
• Rochdale expats
• Obituaries

Farmer's Churchill memorabilia is a load of old bull

13/10/2007

WINSTON Churchill, the most famous Briton who ever lived according to a recent poll, was well known for his British ‘bulldog’ tenacity, especially in times of war.

But what might not be so well known is that in at least one part of the country – Littleborough, in fact – the former Prime Minister was also known as – Winston the Bull.

In fact, Winston was one of three bulls purchased by a Littleborough farmer, Tom Lord, of Heights Farm, Shore.

The thee animals were belted Galloway bulls, but were unusual in another way – they were part of Sir Winston Churchill’s herd being sold in October 1957.

Hearing that the final sale of Sir Winston’s herd was to be held in Kent, Mr Lord, also a Lancashire county councillor, decided to take time off to go down there.

He was determined to have something from the wartime premier’s farm at Chartwell estate and was quite prepared to pay over the odds to have something as a keepsake.

In the end, as the Observer reported to its readers, not only did Mr Lord buy a tarpaulin bearing the name of Chartwell estate and three white coats, he also bought three bulls.

The bulls – two were 14 months old and the other 12 months old – were then named by Mr Lord, Winston, Randolph, after Winston’s father and, after their new owner, Tom.

According to Mr Lord, they were quite wild, having been allowed full freedom of Sir Winston’s large estate and all had been born outdoors, never having been indoors.

But they were of a very hardy breed and Mr Lord was in absolutely no doubt that they would thrive in their new Littleborough pasture.