Gov. Mike Parson Strengthens Special Relationship Between UK and Westminster College During Recent Trade Mission

On a recent trade mission to the United Kingdom, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson strengthened the historic and special relationship between the UK and Westminster College: Parson presented an original ticket to Winston Churchill’s March 5, 1946, John Findley Green Foundation Lecture — popularly known today as the “Iron Curtain” speech — to the Imperial War Museum’s Churchill War Rooms in London.

The presentation, which was attended by several Missouri legislators and Senior Churchill Fellow of Westminster College Philip Boeckman, ’88 KA, was a gift from America’s National Churchill Museum to the Churchill War Rooms.

“When Governor Parson’s office called to ask if there was something we could do to underscore the importance of Churchill, Westminster College, and the Museum to our colleagues in London, I immediately said ‘yes!’” explained Timothy Riley, the Sandra L. and Monroe E. Trout Director and Chief Curator at America’s National Churchill Museum. “Senor Fellow Boeckman and I thought an original ticket to the ‘Iron Curtain’ speech at Westminster belonged in the Imperial War Museum’s collection, and Governor Parson was happy to present it on behalf of the Museum and College.”

According to Imperial War Room Head of Content Nigel Steel, the ticket will become an important part of a new digital Lifeline exhibition that charts Winston Churchill’s life. It will be used to highlight the importance of the “Iron Curtain” speech in world history.

“We will now be able to animate and illustrate this pivotal event much more powerfully by using a digital image of the ticket,” Steel said.

Building international relationships while promoting Missouri as an ideal business location and trade partner were the primary goals of the overseas trip.

“It’s always exciting to highlight Missouri’s strengths, and this trade mission was a tremendous success in showing international partners what the Show-Me State has to offer,” Parson said in a press release on March 25, 2022. “Missouri is an ideal business location, and this mission allowed us to further promote our state’s advantages to global business leaders.”