Cecily “Chips” Gemmell, the last surviving secretary of Winston Churchill, has died at the age of 97. Gemmell was closely associated with the former British prime minister during the years following World War II, serving as one of the team responsible for transcribing Churchill’s war memoirs.

Born on December 25, 1928, in Bangalore, India, Gemmell grew up in British-occupied India as the daughter of a surveyor with the Rajput Regiment. After completing her schooling in Kolkata and attending Mrs Hoster’s Secretarial College, she was selected to work with Churchill in 1947, reportedly because she was perceived as the toughest candidate among a group of three women considered for the role.

Her initial duties included cataloguing Churchill’s archive before she was entrusted with taking dictation. Much of her work took place at Chartwell, Churchill’s country home in Kent, where secretaries were often summoned on short notice to assist with his writing. Gemmell recounted sitting outside bathrooms or beside Churchill’s bed during late-night sessions, transcribing his dictated memoirs as he worked well into the early hours. She described Churchill as both demanding and affectionate, noting his tendency to push secretaries hard but also displaying kindness and humor.

Gemmell recalled a poignant moment when Churchill reviewed her transcript of his famous Battle of Britain speech. Upon discovering she had misheard the word “conflict” in the line “Never in the field of human conscience was so much owed by so many to so few,” Churchill was reportedly moved, even close to tears, reflecting the deep personal significance he placed on his words.

Her role extended beyond transcription; besides walking Churchill’s dog and washing his paintbrushes, Gemmell was gifted a portrait painted by Churchill himself. She accompanied him on trips to Monte Carlo, Marrakesh, and the Dolomites, where her presence aimed to support the prime minister’s writing and travel needs. After Churchill’s 1951 election victory, she worked as secretary to his wife, Clementine, before moving to the United States to join Life magazine.

In later years, Gemmell married jazz pianist John Bunch in 1998. She often spoke warmly of her time with Churchill, describing a working relationship filled with laughter and mutual respect. “I’d have thrown myself under a bus for the Old Man,” she once said, reflecting the deep bond she felt with Churchill, affectionately known as “the Old Man.”

Gemmell’s recollections provide a unique insight into the private world of one of Britain’s most iconic figures during a pivotal time in history. Her contributions helped shape the definitive record of Churchill’s memories and ensured his speeches were faithfully preserved.