[David L.]

Can you imagine him meeting the Queen of England and saying, "Well, howdy now, honey," Let anyone ring his house and he doesn't stand on ceremony(= insist on the observance of formalities), let it be a neighbour, the Queen - or as the writer uses for his example - Winston Churchill. His standard greeting to all and sundry is "Well, howdy now, honey,"

Those were the words if it had been Winston Churchill on the line.

That was his standard greeting , even if somebody like Winston Churchill were to ring.