MP's pride at new '˜Winston fiver'

Mid Sussex MP Sir Nicholas Soames has spoken of his joy at his grandfather Winston Churchill being depicted on the back of the new £5 note.
Mid Sussex MP Sir Nicholas Soames with the new £5 note depicting his grandfather Sir Winston Churchill SUS-160714-145047001Mid Sussex MP Sir Nicholas Soames with the new £5 note depicting his grandfather Sir Winston Churchill SUS-160714-145047001
Mid Sussex MP Sir Nicholas Soames with the new £5 note depicting his grandfather Sir Winston Churchill SUS-160714-145047001

Former Bank of England Governor Mervyn King announced in 2013 that Sir Winston would appear on the next Bank of England banknote. And this week the note was revealed by his grandson Sir Nicholas.

“I was very proud to have been asked to launch the new £5 note - The Winston - on behalf of the Bank of England in the House of Commons,” he said.

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The Churchill fiver is printed on polymer and will be issued in September.

When first announcing plans for the note Mervyn King described Churchill as “a hero of the entire free world. His energy, courage, eloquence, wit and public service are an inspiration to us all.”

The portrait of Winston Churchill on the banknote is from a photograph taken in Ottawa by Yousuf Karsh on 30 December 1941 with a view of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower from the South Bank looking across Westminster Bridge.The image of the Elizabeth Tower with the hands of the Great Clock at 3 o’clock – the approximate time on 13 May 1940 when Sir Winston Churchill declared in a speech to the House of Commons: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.” The declaration is quoted beneath the portrait.