In 2008, I had the truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work for Sir Martin Gilbert. He needed me to type documents that would be published in volumes called “The Churchill Documents.” I am still amazed to this day that he gave that opportunity to me considering that I am not a doctoral student, historian, or professor.
I was someone who loved his work and was his student, much like the rest of what was even more amazing was that he asked me go to London and work for him near his home, which I did. For a week that didn’t last long enough, I worked and I had tea with him and his wonderful wife, which they insisted on. I’m a coffee man, but I gladly made an exception. I worked for the most important man of the 20th and 21st centuries. I still have tears of gratitude.