Cats were very influential in the life and politics of World War II-era British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. During his time as PM, his best-known cat was a grey called Nelson. It is claimed he said that "Nelson is the bravest cat I ever knew. I once saw him chase a huge dog out of the Admiralty. I decided to adopt him and name him after our great Admiral". Apparently Nelson would sit in on cabinet meetings, feasting on salmon, and Churchill once told a colleague that Nelson was doing more than he was for the war effort.
Nelson, and Churchill, are remembered in a one act play, “Mr Churchill’s Cat”, by Trisha Sugarek (2013).
It seems that Churchill was also fond of pigs -
"I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals."
Several cats owned Winston over time, and in his later years he was very fond of a marmalade ginger tom cat called Jock who was given to him on his 88th birthday. Churchill made sure that Jock lived a life of luxury, and Jock was with him when he died.
It is said that it was Churchill’s dying wish that there should always be a marmalade ginger tom called Jock living “comfortably” in his estate of Chartwell, and the National Trust has kept up this wish ever since.
The current host of your visit to Chartwell is Jock VI.
According to the National Trust, the primary role of a Chartwell cat is to interact with visitors and roam the estate's extensive grounds. Jock has his own Facebook page, and welcomes visitors to Chartwell every day. He acts as an ambassador for the National Trust, giving tours, allowing children to pet him, and posing regularly for photographs. Jock VI was a “rescue cat” and is enjoying his new life.
He will help you find your way around.
