Winston Churchill's Tearful Night in Bristol: Remembering A Historic 1945 Event

The event was so dramatic that it moved the Prime Minister to tears.

Rubble everywhere as he rode through the streets

Here is a photo from the Getty Images archives depicting the occasion when Mr Churchill drove through the streets of Bristol after receiving the Freedom of the City.

It happened in April 1945, a short time before he announced the end of World War II in Europe. He also conferred honorary degrees on members of his wartime cabinet during the same visit, as Chancellor of the University of Bristol.

The visit went ahead even though there had been a major air raid the night before.

The ceremony had to be adapted and it was held in a smaller, undamaged room.

It moved Churchill to tears

The honour of The Freedom of the City was bestowed upon Churchill by Bristol City Council, in recognition of his wartime leadership and contributions.

As he rode through the streets, the people of Bristol cheered even though there was a ton of rubble and an unexploded bomb nearby. It moved the Prime Minister to tears, days before VE Day.

For more of an insight in 1940s Bristol life, take a look at this photo gallery of scenes in the city from the era.

It was a decade of massive change and here’s what Bristol looked like during the 1940s war years - and beyond.

Thanks to Getty Images, it shows remarkable views of life in the city which stretch from the visit of Eleanor Roosevelt to children using pianos for fuel.