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Back Bench & Goldfish. Sir Winston, reluctant to retire but aware that he must, refused to steal any more thunder from Anthony Eden by appearing in the House of Commons on the day Eden took over. But the back-bench seat (actually on the front bench), which he firmly intends to hang onto, was standing ready and vacant for him. "The House has today lost one of the greatest frontbenchers in all its history," said Tory Walter Elliot, "but the backbenchers have gained the greatest backbencher of all times."
While such tributes were being sounded in a chamber still vibrant with his personality. Winston Churchill himself was busy entertaining the Downing Street staff at tea, snapping quips at parlormaids and secretaries alike, and preparing to go home to Kent.
When at last he was bundled, along with his poodle Rufus and his parakeet
Toby, into one of the two cars headed for Chartwell, tears stood once again in the old man's eyes. But by the time he reached his Kent home, the old Churchillian spirit was back to par. Some 30 villagers were on hand to meet him at the gate, and Churchill greeted them warmly. "Come on inside the grounds," he urged enthusiastically. "Come on, all of you, and have a look at my goldfish." The villagers swarmed in to take advantage of the invitation. "Yes," said Churchill, just before entering the house, "it's good to be home."