On January 30, 1965, 350 million people across Europe watched the final journey of one of the most extraordinary prime ministers Britain has even seen.

Statesman, war leader, writer and artist, Winston Churchill has long held an almost reverential position in British society, credited with holding off the Nazis and defending our country’s way of life.

As the 50 anniversary of his funeral approaches, Chartwell, Churchill’s beloved Kent home, is holding an exhibition commemorating the life, death and legacy of the man voted the ‘Greatest Ever Britain’.

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Chartwell volunteer Tony Millard, who is also a member of the Churchill Centre UK, watched Churchill's state funeral in 1965, alongside thousands of others wishing to pay their respects.

He remembers the days vividly.

“When he died on January 24, almost immediately the press and the radio announced the fact and people started collecting outside his home, in Hyde Park Gate in London, where he had died.”

“People clearly understood that Churchill stood at the forefront of everything and decided there’s no way the Nazis are going to invade this country" - Tony Millard

“Two three days later I joined the vast queue that stretched across the Thames and waited seven hours before I finally got to Westminster. In the hall you could hear a pin drop, despite the thousands of people.”

Churchill’s body lay in state at Westminster for three days before being taken down the river by the Havengore, a ceremonial vessel that spent much of its later life at Chatham Dockyard.

Mr Millard said: “When the funeral procession came along it was spellbinding, in terms of what it meant to everybody.

“People clearly understood that Churchill stood at the forefront of everything and decided there’s no way the Nazis are going to invade this country. People remember that because it meant more to everyone than anything else in the history of the nation.”

Churchill’s body was taken by train from London to his final resting place at Bladon, near Blenheim, his birthplace and ancestral home.

Video: The Death of a Hero Exhibition at Chartwell

The Death of a Hero exhibition at Chartwell looks in detail at the funeral and the impact Churchill had on the nation, exploring his legacy through personal artifacts not seen previously by the public, including some donated by his family.

Katherine Barnett, Chartwell’s house and collections manager, said: “Our exhibition aims to delve deeper into the story of his passing.

“It was the end of an era. It was the mid-1960s, and you’ve got Beatlemania, the Rolling Stones in the charts, and London is being taken over by a wave of change.

“And yet, for one day, one freezing cold January day, the city just completely stopped and people descended on London from around the world.

“The entire train route was full of people; so many felt compelled to come out and show their feelings of pride and respect and loss.”

Chartwell always held a special lace in Churchill’s heart, but it was far more than a country retreat.

“Chartwell was a place of comfort, a place of escape, but it was also where he did a large proportion of his work," said Ms Barnett.

“One of the main things about Chartwell is that in the years before the Second World War, when he was desperately trying to raise awareness of German rearmament and the threat the Third Reich posed to Europe, many of the speeches we know so well were composed in this very building.”

Next Friday Churchill’s descendants will retrace the route of his funeral procession aboard the Havengore, sailing to Westminster where a wreath will be laid to commemorate his achievements.

The journey is part of a programme of events planned to mark the 50 anniversary of Churchill’s death.

Ten facts you might not know about Churchill

1. He introduced the first minimum wage under Herbert Asquith’s Liberal government in 1908, which passed his Trade Boards Bill
2. He also helped the Liberals pass ‘The People’s Budget’ that introduced new taxes on the wealthy to fund social welfare programmes
3. It’s well known that Churchill liked a drink; journalist and Tory peer Lord Deedes once suggested he asked for a dangerous front line post during the First World War because there was no alcohol allowed at his battalion’s HQ
4. A committed imperialist, Churchill was strongly opposed to India’s independence from the British Empire, which led to a split with political colleagues.
5. Churchill served as First Lord of Admiralty twice, initially in the First World War and again during the second. On learning he was once again in charge, The Royal Navy simply signalled the fleet: “Winston is back”
6. Despite being born into an aristocratic family, Churchill struggled for much of his life to maintain an income high enough to cover his extravagant spending. This forced him to earn money through journalism, speaking tours and writing – he penned several critically acclaimed history books
7. He was a competent brick layer, a member of the Amalgamated Guild of Building Trade Workers. He used his skill to build several garden walls at Chartwell
8. Churchill was so fond of Chartwell that he originally asked to be buried there, before deciding to be buried at Bladon, near Blenheim, his birthplace and ancestral home.
9. A keen amateur artist, Churchill enjoyed painting, particularly landscapes. Examples of his work can be seen at Chartwell.
10. Churchill was fifth cousin, twice removed, to Princess Diana

The Death Of A Hero exhibition is now running at Chartwell, near Westerham, until Sunday, February 22. Entry costs £13 for adults, £6.50 for children and £32.50 for families. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell or call 01732 868381.