South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 09 February 1952
Widespread Evidence of Personal Grief and Sympathy
A Heavy and Unexpected Blow
South Yorkshire heard the news of the King’s death in stunned bewilderment. First reaction was word of the Sandringham announcement passed round was to seek confirmation of the nation’s incredibly sudden loss.
Individual grief was openly manifested in many cases. People obviously felt a deep sense of personal loss in the death of a popular and unostentatious monarch. Their sympathy for the Queen, the Queen Mother and the very happy and united Royal Family was equally evident and sincere.
Death of the King
It is with deepest regret that we record the announcement made from Sandringham at 10.45 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6th, that His Majesty King George VI, who retired to rest the previous night in his usual health, passed peacefully away in his sleep in the early hours of the morning.
His Majesty returned with the Queen to Sandringham on Friday, after coming to London to see Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh.
The King, who was 56 years of age, was born at Sandringham House, Norfolk, on December 14th, 1895, the second son of King George V and Queen Mary.
He succeeded to the throne while in Africa.
The Proclamation
Will Be Read in Montagu Square To-morrow
County Coun. G. H. Hanson, J.P., chairman of Mexborough Urban Council, will read Mexborough’s copy of the Proclamation of the Accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth in Montagu Square to-morrow (Saturday). It is expected that a large crowd will be present.
A copy of the Proclamation is being sent to every Urban and Rural Authority in the West Riding by the Under-Sheriff and it is being left to individual bodies as to where and when Proclamations shall be read.
At Mexborough it is hoped to arrange for Mexborough’s military band to be in attendance. If so they will play “God Save the Queen.”
County Coun. Hanson has extended invitations to members and officials of the Council, and to representatives of other organisations in the town, to attend the formal service at Mexborough Parish Church at 10.45 on Sunday.
The Vicar, the Rev. A. J. Bishop, who will give the address, invites all local ex-service men to be present.
The Vicar has agreed with the Rev. J. Harper, Superintendent Minister of Mexborough Primitive Methodist Church, at the time of the King’s funeral.
All the cinemas in the district were closed on Wednesday evening and a number of Mexborough shops introduced black crepe into the window displays yesterday as a sign of mourning.
Swinton West Riding Police reserved special leave for guidance in respect of social activities this week-end. These will go on as arranged.
Mexborough Royal Artillery Territorial Unit resumed its parade and lecture on Sunday.
Coun. W. Christenson (chairman of Mexborough Council), sent telegrams of condolence to the Royal Family on behalf of the Council and townspeople. He paid tribute to the King and said: “The confidence the people had in him and his wholehearted devotion to duty inspired the deep affection of the people.”
Wath Tree Named After New Queen?
Pupils at Wath Grammar School, who are considering buying trees to decorate the new Festival Road now being built, have suggested that two of the trees be named after King George and the new Queen Elizabeth.
No flag flies over Conisbrough Castle as the flagpole was removed some time ago owing to its poor condition and subsequent danger to visitors. No flag flies either over Conisbrough Police Station. The Police, who had early instructions to raise a flag at half-mast, were unable to do so as they had neither flag nor flag-pole. But over the schools, the Parish Church and public buildings the Union Jacks are fluttering.
Unusual among the many Union Jacks flying at half-mast in Mexborough was seen over the Mexborough Divisional Fire Station. It is the official flag of the West Riding County Fire Service.
Within a few hours of the King’s death the National Anthem had been sung in Wath (East and West Ward) Over 60’s club and it was too late to cancel their weekly meeting, but they kept the meeting a quiet one. When all the members assembled a silence was observed, and to the piano accompaniment of Mrs. L. Ann Fielding they sang “God Save the Queen.”
As soon as the news of the King’s death reached Thurnscoe Hill Boys’ Modern School, the boys held a short service.
The Union Jack hung at half-mast over the Electricity Authority’s offices in Station Road, Mexborough, was torn away in the strong wind on Wednesday night and remained attached to the mast by a single line. A workman had to retrieve the loose end with a long staff and repair the broken rope.
Barnburgh Parish Council chairman, Mr. W. Smith, will send to the Queen Mother a telegram of sympathy on behalf of the Council and parishioners from tonight’s monthly meeting of the Council.
A telegram of sympathy to the Queen Mother is being sent by the Coke Oven Managers’ Association, whose office is in Mexborough. The telegram will be on behalf of the Association’s many members throughout Yorkshire and will be signed by the president, Mr. William Jeffery.
Swinton’s Sympathy
Swinton Urban Council, meeting in Committee on Wednesday, after standing in silence agreed to send the following messages in the name of the Council Chairman, Coun. J. Renderson:
“To the Queen’s most excellent Majesty.
“The chairman and members of Swinton Urban Council respectfully express their profound grief at the death of His Majesty King George VI, and they beg to tender their respectful sympathy to your Majesty, to the Queen Mother and to the Royal Family and also express their loyalty to the throne with the earnest prayer that your Majesty will long live to reign over a devoted and united Empire.”
The second message, a telegram to the Queen Mother, said:
“The people of Swinton (Yorkshire) Urban District mourn the passing of their beloved King and offer profound sympathy to the Royal Family in their sad bereavement.”