1942 MEDIA: Lord Beaverbrook hosts dinner to honour journalist Hannen Swaffer

Date: 7th September 1942

Location: SAVOY HOTEL, ENGLAND

Source: Reuters Historical News Collection: BRITISH PARAMOUNT NEWSREEL (REUTERS)

GTV Reynolds speaking and crowd listening.

SV Reynolds speaking: "But I think the moment Swaff will always remember as his greatest triumph came when he visited Rome a few years ago. He was in the Vatican where, of course, he belongs (Laughter) and the door suddenly opened and Mussolini strode in, looked at the end of the room at the two thrones where these two figures were seated, turned to the Italian King and said "Who in God's name is that man in the white robe talking to Hannen Swaffer?" (Laughter.)

SV Beaverbrook:

"Now then boys, the big turn. After the big turn the little fellows come on. (Laughter) GV applause and Swaffer stands.

CU Swaffer:

"And little did I dream Lord Beaverbrook in celebration of my survival after 40 years of it that I should be honoured by the presence tonight not only of so many of my friends most of those present are bound by ties of affection, but by the presence in the chair Lord Beaverbrook of you, for whom as you know I have the highest and deepest personal regards (Pan to CU Beaverbrook.)

SV Swaffer:

"But I want to say this to you to-night, I am sure with the approval of everybody here, that never mind how much money you have, that won't matter. GV But you will leave behind you an enduring monument of affection in the hearts of all the people with whom you are associated in journalism.

LV Swaffer speaking:

"My Lord, while I am speaking to you a new world, whether you know it, is being born. Institutionalism is dead CU belief in priviledge, in power, pomp and might have all gone, they are now grouping towards a new order of things, planning, however, blunderingly in their minds a better world and we are going to be judged by prosterity you and me, by whether in creating that new order we do our jobs or not. As individuals we don't matter a damn, except when I write in millions of copies I am utterly unimportant, but if when I write in millions of copies I tell the truth as I can see it, I am bloody important, and so are all of you. GV We must not let advertisers stop us, we must not let priviledge stop us, and we mustn't let pomp and might stop us, we must do our jobs, because if we do there will be a new world." GV pan people applauding and Swaffer sits down.

ORIG. NEG.

GOOD SCENES: CU Donoghue. SEMI SIDE VIEW SWAFFER, Beaverbrook and A. Christiansen. SEMI side view John GORDON, Brenden Bracken and Cudlipp. CU Bracken. CU Michael Foot. CU Baxter. CU Gubbin with hand over face. SV Cochran. SCU side view McQueen Pope. CU Gubbin with hand over face and Trevor Wignall. CU Wignall. CU side view Brebner and Eric Baume.

Personalities - Journalists; Social Events; William Maxwell Aikten, 1st Baron Beaverbrook (1879-1964), Celebrations - Anniversaries (Personal), Great Britain; Michael Foot (Later Leader of Labour Party); Douglas Fairbanks Junior

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