Sir Winston Churchill Becomes New Face of Five Pound Note

Sir Winston Churchill's rippling jowls will adorn new five pound notes in honour of the British wartime prime minister, who steered the country to victory through the devastation and difficulties in the Second World War.

Churchill, who delivered the famous "We Shall Fight on the Beaches" speech over the radio to millions of Britons, has been voted greatest Briton of all time in a number of polls over the years. Five pound notes carrying his image will be printed from 2016.

"Our banknotes acknowledge the life and work of great Britons. Sir Winston Churchill was a truly great British leader, orator and writer," said Sir Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England.

"Above that, he remains a hero of the entire free world. His energy, courage, eloquence, wit and public service are an inspiration to us all. I am proud to announce that he will appear on our next banknote."

He will replace 19<sup>th Century social reformer Elizabeth Fry, a Quaker who campaigned for improvements to the country's Victorian prison system.

The Bank of England said the back of the note will feature:

• A portrait of Winston Churchill from a photograph taken in Ottawa by Yousuf Karsh on 30 December 1941.
• A view of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower from the South Bank looking across Westminster Bridge.
• The image of the Elizabeth Tower with the hands of the Great Clock at 3 o'clock - the approximate time on 13 May 1940 when Sir Winston Churchill declared in a speech to the House of Commons: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." This declaration is quoted beneath the portrait.
• A background image of the Nobel Prize medal which he was awarded in 1953 for literature, together with the wording of the prize citation.