THE sense of pride and excitement must have been immense – Britain’s Prime Minister and wartime hero, set to become a freeman of York.

Some 65 years ago this winter, York was on tenterhooks. Winston Churchill had been offered the Honorary Freedom of the city, and his secretary had indicated the then-Prime Minister was keen to accept.

So the despair and frustration when Churchill then repeatedly snubbed the city’s invitation must have been hard to bear – especially when he even passed through York on his way to collect another Freedom elsewhere.

Historians at City of York Archives and the Mansion House have been winding back the clock, retelling the tale of how York was spectacularly snubbed over and over again.

Churchill’s half-finished parchment and undated casket still remain in the Mansion House; a lasting testament to the city’s dashed hopes. Brian Watson, the current Lord Mayor of York, said today: “We’ve all heard of politicians not delivering – but this is one that failed to collect.”

Coun Watson said that, as far as he knew, Churchill was the only person to have had a Freedom scroll prepared but not accepted.

Churchill’s story is retold in a booklet produced by city archivists. It tells how in December 1943, with the war at its height, the then Lord Mayor of York William Thompson wrote to the Prime Minister, saying the York council wanted to confer upon him the honorary freedom of the city.

His private secretary wrote back a month later, saying the Prime Minister was “very glad to receive the proposal” and pledging to accept in the “not too distant future”. York’s city leaders set to work, commissioning a scroll and presentation casket. And then they waited. In April 1944, a rather affronted Lord Mayor wrote to Churchill’s secretary again, noting that the Prime Minister had received the freedom of several other cities, including one in which he passed through York by train.

The Lord Mayor pressed again for a date, but was told military engagements prevented any commitment.

By late 1945, Churchill had been replaced as Prime Minister by Clement Attlee, and the scroll was out of date. Again though, Churchill’s office promised he would visit York.

With the war won and peace secured, York again pressed the matter in 1949, but with a similar lack of success. By 1951, with Churchill now back in office as Prime Minister, the new Lord Mayor of York Alderman John Kaye even met him in the House of Commons, only to be told that there were 40 other places he had to visit, including his old constituency of Oldham.

Further attempts in 1952 brought the all-too familiar riposte from Churchill’s office, and – after 12 years of trying – the city finally gave up in 1955. Sir Winston, as he then was, died ten years later, aged 90.