Annie Gray

There are around 1000 biographies of Winston Churchill, lauding his character and his deeds. Very few point out that it is much easier to be a leading statesman if you have someone behind you, picking up your pants. But up til now Winston’s servants have been largely invisible, including the crucial figure of his favourite cook.

Georgina Landemare cooked for the Churchills for over 14 years, but she was an established society chef before she came to No.10 in 1940. This talk will cover her life, her times, and the food she cooked. We’ll look at life as a private chef in the roaring twenties, the impact of rationing on upper class food, and the relationship she had with her many illustrious employers.

The talk is both a celebration of a determined cook, and a reminder that behind every great man lies a woman who can make a mean custard.

As well as being the author of Victory in the Kitchen: the life of Churchill’s Cook, food historian Dr Annie Gray has also written The Greedy Queen: Eating with Victoria and The Official Downton Abbey Cookbook. She’s a regular panellist on BBC Radio 4’s The Kitchen Cabinet and contributes to various TV productions. She is also a consultant to the heritage industry, including to Historic Royal Palaces at Kew.