LTT FLC CIRCLES TO LAND ON RWY OTHER THAN ASSIGNED.

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DEPARTED JACKSON; TN; IFR TO MARION; IL. 50 MI FROM MARION THE COPLT CONTACTED THE MARION TWR TO GET WX AND APCH TO EXPECT. THE WX WAS 700 SCATTERED; 1700 SCATTERED; 3000 OVCST; 10 MI VISIBILITY; BLOWING SNOW; VARIABLE WINDS GUSTING TO 25 KTS. EXPECT CIRCLE TO LAND RWY 29. THE COPLT WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE TWR FOR 20 MINS ON AND OFF WHILE WE HELD. OUR ILS WAS NORMAL; AND WE BROKE OUT AT 1200 TO 1400 FT. AT ABOUT 500 FT I SAW THAT THE WIND SOCK AT THE ARR END OF 20 WAS STRAIGHT AND SHOWING AN ALMOST PERFECT DOWNWIND SIT. WITH THE WINDS RPTED GUSTING ABOVE 20 KTS AND BLOWING SNOW; I ADVISED THE COPLT OF MY INTENTION TO CIRCLE TO RWY 2 AND CLBED TO THE CIRCLING MINIMUMS. THE LNDG WAS NORMAL. TWR COMPLAINED THAT WE HAD ENDANGERED OTHER TFC BY NOT ADVISING THEM OF OUR INTENTION TO CIRCLE TO 20. LATER I FOUND OUT THAT THE COPLT HAD ACTUALLY BEEN RESPONDING TO APCH CTL AND DID NOT HEAR MY CIRCLE INTENTION. I SAW HER LIPS MOVING AND ASSUMED SHE WAS TALKING TO TWR ON THE OTHER RADIO. I APOLOGIZED TO TWR. HOWEVER; THE TWR CTLR WAS WAITING FOR ME IN THE FBO AND TOOK ME TO TASK IN FRONT OF MY PAX. IN 35 YRS OF FLYING I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING BUT A HIGH LEVEL OF CONSIDERATION AND HELP FROM TWR PERSONNEL WHEN OPERATING IN DIFFICULT CONDITIONS. THE ARPT WAS IFR AND THERE IS NO RADAR COVERAGE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE TWR PERSONNEL HAVE NO BUSINESS CARRYING OUT THIS KIND OF CRITICISM IN FRONT OF PAX AND FBO PERSONNEL. WE WERE CLRED TO LAND ON DOWNWIND.