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Radio gift marks Churchill anniversary

Enid and Sue

Presenter and BWBF patron Sue Cook has presented one of our radios to an 88-year-old at Churchill’s former home in Kent.

Sue Cook, one of BWBF’s patrons, presented Enid Ferguson, of Westerham, with a new Concerto 2 set this week.

With the sun streaming into Winston Churchill’s former study at Chartwell, his home in Kent, 88-year-old Enid, who is partially sighted, chatted with Sue as she was given a new combined radio and audio player.  

British Wireless was delighted when the National Trust, which now manages Chartwell, agreed to host the presentation of the set to mark Winston Churchill’s connection with British Wireless for the Blind Fund and the 50 years since his death.

Sue is one of the UK’s best-loved broadcasters, well known from presenting Crimewatch UK, the Children in Need appeal and Holiday on television.

She has also had a long career in radio, stretching from early beginnings as a DJ for London’s Capital Radio, to presenting You and Yours and Making History. 

Sue said: “It was such a privilege to visit Chartwell and meet Enid – such a lovely lady, fascinating to talk to.

“It’s a great feeling to know she is going to be able to enjoy listening to the radio again – Enid was telling me how much she had been missing Radio 4.”

Enid grew up in Westerham, attending the local infant school and then Tonbridge Grammar School for Girls.

She retired from work at the age of 70 having worked for 30 years as secretary/bookkeeper at Westerham Coaches, a small family business.

Enid remembers Churchill presenting prizes at a Westerham fete when she was a girl and standing with her dad on the roof of a shelter watching planes being shot down during the war.

She used to visit Chartwell regularly and walk round the gardens.

Now at 88, Enid struggles to see and can no longer read.

Having a radio that she can use without help will bring the world of broadcast radio to her living room and enable her to once again enjoy books, read to her from talking book CDs from the local library.