Monday 2 December 2019

NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN: THE FIRST AND ONLY ORNITHOLOGIST TO BECOME PRIME MINISTER




EVERYONE knows about Neville Chamberlain. . .

He was the slightly-built man standing at an aerodrome, simultaneously waving a piece of paper in his hand and proclaiming something about a reassuring agreement with Hitler.

That is the image most people have of Chamberlain - surely one of the most vilified prime ministers of the past 100 years.

Ever since 1939, his apparent readiness to 'appease' the territorial aggression of the German dictator has been roundly condemned as spineless and shameful.

The extent to which that unkind perspective is justified is entirely another matter.

In any case, a single episode in his political career should not be allowed to obliterate all other considerations of Chamberlain - a decent, shy and misunderstood man who, in his 71 years, made an enormous contribution across a wide spectrum of human activity.

Before entering politics, he was a sisal farmer in The Bahamas, then a successful businessman at an engineering works in his native Birmingham.

Less well known is that he was also a skilful angler, entomologist and birdwatcher.

He learnt the craft of taxidermy, and some of the birds he stuffed while in The Bahamas are held at the Natural History Museum's collection at Tring in Hertfordshire.

This study explores the life and enthusiasms of a most intriguing man.


* Available now (price £2) as an ebook on Kindle
https://amzn.to/2PaSwJZ

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