Remembering King George V1

Derek Howorth recalls a special day in his life:

On February 6 1952, when the death of King George V1 was announced, I had just passed my eighth birthday and was a pupil at Castle Hill Junior School, Todmorden.

In those days the class sometimes took part in exercises in the school hall, to the accompaniment of a radio programme broadcast from large, wall-mounted speakers.

On this day I remember the radio falling silent for some minutes, broken when an announcer came on saying "This is London" - which, even at that young age, immediately meant that something important had happened.

The announcer went on to report the King's death.

Just one of those occasions - like, for many, the announcement of President Kennedy's assassination - when you can remember where you were and what you were doing when the news came through.

Photo BT898: Residents of Back Gordon Street and Hope Buildings, Todmorden, celebrated the Coronation in 1953 with a street party - and a right good spread! Derek Howorth, who has kindly loaned the photo, is fifth from the left.

Read the full story in Milltown Memories, issue 5. If this or other stories stirs a memory, we'd be happy to know - send us your memories and comments.