Churchill is a name of global renown, linked to politics, military forces, royalty, world-wide conflict, art and writing.

Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill was born on 30th November, 1874 in his family's ancestral home, Blenheim Palace, in Oxfordshire. At the time, the British Empire  was a dominant world power. His ancestors, the Dukes of Marlborough, had served the Empire as military and political leaders, playing vital roles in the highest echelons of British aristocracy. 

Churchill continued this tradition writing as a newspaper journalist, serving in the Army, representing constituents as an MP and serving the United Kingdom as Prime Minister between 1940 and 1945 and again 1951-1955. During the years of WWII, courage, perseverance and faith were needed by the nation; Churchill's leadership inspired and motivated many, particularly in darkest and bleakest times, earning him much respect. Knighted by HM Queen Elizabeth II in 1954 and recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature, for "his mastery of historical and biographical description as well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values," Churchill stands as a national hero.

With their private residence, Chartwell, located in near-by Westerham, the Churchills were familiar with local families known to Chevening. Churchill succeeded Earl Stanhope, serving as First Lord of the Admiralty 1939-40. Chartwell's views of Kent provided solace and inspiration to Churchill the artist, as well as providing a home for his family, collection of pets and butterflies.

Clementine (nee Hozier) married Winston in 1908; she too displayed many of our school values throughout her life, although she may be over-shadowed by Winston's international role and fame. Winston acknowledged that his own responsibilities, roles and actions would not have been possible with Clementine's support; Clementine was well-respected for her own local, national and international efforts.
Discussions and disagreements at home show Clementine's honesty, courage and love, although outside of the home they presented a united front. In childhood, Clementine's home-life included sadness and difficulties that needed faith to help her persevere in life. A strong social conscience underpinned Clementine's compassion for others, which aligned with Winston's early support for the development of the welfare state. Bearing the vocal criticism of others and war-time living required courage and faith to fire-up the resolve to persevere and the Churchills were no exception.

Knole House, some 4 miles from Chevening Primary, was the birthplace of Vita Sackville-West in 1892- the only daughter of the third Baron Sackville and his wife, Victoria.
Now an acclaimed Grade 1 listed  National Trust property, the House and Estate have a long and eminent history, including a period as a C15 Archbishop's Palace.

Vita's happy childhood memories of showing visitors around the family's estate were clouded by the legal system of the time that prevented her from inheriting the property when her father died. 

Vita's writing skills started in childhood and continued to develop; 'Knole and the Sackvilles', her biography caught attention in 1922, with some praising it as a 'classic' example of literature about English country houses, whilst others felt it was more romantic than historically accurate. Vita's passions demanded courage at a time when there were strict views about relationships.

Her childhood plays, novels and poetry were the foundations for her 'Poems of East and West', based on her time in Constantinople with her husband, Harold.  Subsequent literary works won accolades and awards, culminating in Vita being made a Companion of Honour for her services to literature, in 1947. 

Vita's skills and knowledge extended to gardening, which also served as a source of inspiration for her weekly column, 'In your Garden' in The Observer. Gardening and journalism demand respect and faith in actions undertaken and the impact of words on others.
If you visit Knole today, one of the treasures to look for is Vita's bedroom door-stop - in the form of William Shakespeare.

The Stanhope Family might be considered to have the closest link to Chevening Primary School, living just a mile away at Chevening House. The first Earl Stanhope, General James Stanhope, acquired Chevening House and Estate in 1717, having served King and country in senior military and political roles. Time and effort was given to enhance both House and Grounds, which passed to further generations of Stanhopes. The third Earl was a noted inventor and brought change to both House and Estate that might have conjured respect at the time, but honest evaluations by later  critics noted that some of the original merits and beauty were lost and the subsequent additions and developments did not endure well.

The fourth and fifth Earls Stanhope paid attention and time to the House and Grounds, focusing on immediate and costly repairs, then the creation of the Italian gardens, Maze (known to many Chevening children) and opened public rights of way through the Grounds. The fourth Earl Stanhope was involved in the establishment of education in the parish - the origins of Chevening Primary School. The modernisation of Chevening House by the fifth Earl came at the expense of some other family properties. 

The seventh and final Earl Stanhope (1880-1967) had the closest links with Chevening Primary School. School photos show children enjoying the Grounds at Chevening House and Countess Stanhope digging the turf to start the campaign to build the original school swimming pool - all very fitting duties for the President of the Board of Education. Without children to inherit, the seventh Earl generously bequeathed Chevening House and Estate for national use in perpetuity; Chevening Primary School is most fortunate to be able to maintain links with Chevening House.

James Wolfe was born just 4 miles from Chevening Primary School, in Westerham on 2nd January, 1727. His parents had rented "Spiers" in 1726, a property with origins going back to C16; subsequently the House had different uses, including a period as a school!

Like many sons of the era, James followed his father into a military career, receiving his commission at the age of fourteen - which seems very young to modern-day children and parents. His progression in Army rank was swift;  service in Europe and Scotland led to his promotion to brigade major by the age of 18 and lieutenant-colonel some 5 years later. 

Wolfe's national fame came with the outbreak of the Seven Years War in 1756; his courage and fortitude in successfully capturing the Fortress of  Louisbourg, saw him commanding a force to support the successful capture of Quebec City from the French Army. Injuries from a subsequent battle finally killed him; his courage and perseverance saw him posthumously titled, "The Hero of Quebec" and the C18 painting "The death of General Wolfe" depicted him as a martyr for the British Empire.