Winston Churchill’s breakfast whisky

As President Barack Obama crosses the Atlantic eastward on Air Force One, a fascinating document has come to light which illustrates Winston Churchill's taste for the high life as he flew out to Washington in June 1954 to meet one of Obama's predecessors, President Dwight Eisenhower.

It was at the height of the Cold War and the British Prime Minister, then 79, was travelling with his Foreign Secretary, Sir Anthony Eden. Handed a BOAC breakfast menu, he declared it not good enough, took out his fountain pen and began to scrawl his own wish list across the menu - a list so long that it took up both sides of the menu and required two trays.

Churchill wrote: "1st Tray. Poached egg, Toast, Jam, Butter, Coffee and milk, Jug of cold milk, Cold Chicken or Meat.

"2nd Tray. Grapefruit, Sugar Bowl, Glass orange squash (ice), Whisky soda."

He then added: "Wash hands, cigar."

The adapted menu was kept by the BOAC steward and comes up for sale at Mullock's auctioneers in Ludlow, Shropshire on April 23, when it is expected to fetch in the region of £1,500.

Says auctioneer Richard Westwood-Brookes: "This is one of the most remarkable pieces of Churchill memorabilia we have seen. It shows what a hearty breakfast he ate and it was all washed down with a whisky, after which he smoked a cigar. It is reassuring to know he ate so well in his 80th year."

Before anyone imagines Obama writing a similar list - bacon, pancakes, French toast, muffin etc - remember that one of Obama's first requests on moving into the Oval Office was to have a bust of Churchill returned to the British Embassy and replaced with one of Abraham Lincoln.