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Celebrate a piece of history this Summer at the Cary Arms

29th May 2019

Categories: Visitor News

It isn’t just the 75^th anniversary of D-Day being celebrated in Devon this year, over the summer, to celebrate the unearthing of three letters dated November 1942 and June 1943, the Cary Arms will be opening a terrace bar alongside a weekly pop-up lobster BBQ in honour of Sir Winston Churchill. Mr Churchill and the members of his closely-knit war time team visited the Cary Arms and were in correspondence with the inn’s owners (Mr & Mrs Cox) throughout the war - and in particular enjoyed the Babbacombe Bay lobster gifted by the Cary Arms, making this an apt celebration of Churchill’s life and connection to Babbcombe.

This pop up is perfect for foodies and history lovers alike. Not only is this an amazing opportunity to indulge in the south west’s sea food, but visitors will also get the chance to read Churchill’s words for themselves.

The terrace seating area, with spectacular views across Babbacombe Bay and the Jurassic coastline beyond, has been redesigned to offer four tables of two and a sea-facing counter for eight. The Lobster BBQ will launch on Saturday, 25th May and be available (reservation only) Saturday lunch times through the summer. The Bar will be open on sunny Saturdays and Sundays for al fresco cocktails and aperitifs.

The Winston Churchill inspired menu will be listed on the reverse side of a replica of the letter the Cary Arms holds from Winston Churchill's office in 1942 personally thanking the Cary Arms for the delicious Babbacombe Bay lobster. This letter will be inside a replica of the original envelope which the inn also possess and wax sealed with their emblem. Pol Roger, Churchill’s favourite champagne, will be available by the glass and suggested as an accompaniment to the food. The letters are a fascinating piece of British history, the first is a brief note from Churchill’s private secretary thanking Mrs Cox and her husband, who were the proprietors of the Cary Arms during the war, for their kind gift of lobster.

It is however the second and third letters that bring the story to life.
Firstly, a personal handwritten letter from Walter H. Thompson, personal bodyguard to Churchill for over 18 years, goes into great detail regarding the gift of lobster and how two of the three were shared by Sir Winston Churchill and General Smuts, then in his second term as Prime Minister of South Africa and honorary Field-Marshall of the British Empire. Much has been written of the friendship and mutual respect and admiration between these two great men, to picture them sitting down to enjoy a lunch of Babbacombe Bay lobster no doubt washed down by Pol Roger champagne in the midst of WWII is quite the picture indeed!
Detective Inspector Walter Henry Thompson BEM then goes on to explain how a mysterious ‘Miss S’ will be writing separately to offer thanks herself and how she is pleased with the plants, also sent as a gift. Unfortunately, if ‘Miss S’ did write in November 1942, this letter is not in the Cary Arms’ possession. However, her identity is revealed in June of 1943, when a letter arrived to thank the Cary Arms for a further lobster, gifted to Mr Thompson, who was unfortunately convalescing in hospital at the time.

‘Miss S’ turns out to be Mary Shearburn, Churchill’s Junior Secretary throughout the war and later to be Mrs Thompson, marrying Mr Thompson soon after the end of the war. The personal nature of the correspondence to Mrs Cox at the Cary Arms perhaps allows us to picture them enjoying the first blossoming of their romance as guests of the Cary Arms, years before their eventual marriage in 1945.

Don’t hesitate, this is your chance to join the team at the Cary Arms and picture yourselves sharing a Babbacombe Bay Lobster dinner washed down with Pol Roger Champagne, just as Churchill and his inner circle did over 75 years ago.

Open Saturday lunch times from May 25^th to September 28^th, please call 01803 327110 for more details.

www.caryarms.co.uk