Churchill could never have imagined that a partly-smoked cigar he discarded in an ash 
tray at Chequers Court more than 50 years ago would end up being offered for sale in a fine art auction. And the 12cm weed is expected to sell for up to £120.
I have no idea who has offered it for sale, or how it came to be in his/her possession. Why wasn’t it thrown out in the bin? Why was such a large amount discarded by the statesman? Was Churchill interrupted from his smoke by important business? Did he intend to re-light it later, only to discover it had been swiped by someone with an eye to profiteering? Do you regard it as an object d’art?
It comes with a typed note saying it was taken out of an ashtray at Chequers Court on February 21 1953; the auctioneers say they don’t have any corroborative evidence, but there’s seemingly no reason to doubt it.
I think I’ll wait for one of Maggie’s handbags to come under the auctioneer’s hammer!
