In September 1928, while Churchill was Chancellor of the Exchequer, reports were published of his bricklaying activities at Chartwell. This prompted Alderman Lane to write to him suggesting he might wish to take up membership of the Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers. After an exchange of letters, in which the rules of the Union were clarified, Churchill joined up on the 10th October 1928. But, as the news was released, it became clear that it was unwelcome to many of the Union's members, and Churchill's membership was repudiated on a technicality by the Executive Council before the end of the month. The whole incident, however, reflects both upon Churchill's interest in the lives and conditions of ordinary 'working men', and his highly original sense of humour.