Eight days that we grieved for the King
9:17am Monday 6th February 2012 in Your Town
IT is 60 years ago today since King George VI passed away and a young Queen Elizabeth took to the throne.
It made headlines across the globe — including here in Bolton.
For eight days the Bolton Evening News ran front page stories about the King’s death and the Queen’s accession.
The death of King George VI at the age of 57, and 16 years into his reign, came as a shock.
On Wednesday, February 8, 1952, the paper ran the headline, “Nation Stunned by Death of King,” accompanied by pictures from outside Buckingham Palace and a profile of the new Queen.
Inside, Royal visits to Bolton were remembered, including the first visit by the king-to-be when he was still the Duke of York in 1920. He unveiled a war memorial in Nelson Square before visiting the Royal Lancashire Show in Lostock.
On Thursday, February 7, 1952, it was revealed that thrombosis caused the King’s death and it was announced that the Vicar of Bolton, the Rev Norburn, would hold a memorial service in Bolton Parish Church on the day of the King’s funeral.
The next day the Mayor of Bolton read the Royal Proclamation from the steps of the Town Hall and, afterwards, the assembled crowd sang the first verse of God Save The Queen.
On Saturday, February 9, the paper reported workers from the Sandringham estate filed past the King’s coffin to pay their respects, while the following Monday the King’s coffin was taken to the capital.
At a meeting of Bolton Town Council, official respects were paid in a statement which read: “The Council of the County Borough of Bolton record their profound grief at the sudden death of his beloved Majesty George VI and humbly desire to submit to the Queen, the Queen Mother and all members of the Royal Family, heartfelt sympathy and condolence with them in their deep sorrow and bereavement.”
On Tuesday, February 12, the Earl Marshal called for public mourning, and the Mayor of Bolton announced plans for the day of the funeral, while on the Wednesday a deputation from the House of Commons visited the Queen.
Finally, on Friday, February 15, the entire front page of the Bolton Evening News was filled with coverage of the King’s funeral. The King was laid to rest in the Royal vault of St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
