George VI remembered

Published 12 Feb 2012 12:00 2 Comments

"THE King Is Dead", proclaimed The Berkshire Chronicle in February 1952 - after George VI died at Sandringham House, Norfolk.

We reported: "The Royal County of Berkshire with the County Borough of Reading, shares the general sense of poignant sorrow which has been aroused by the death of a beloved Monarch. The King was found dead in his bed at 7.30am. All the previous day he had been out shooting, happy and apparently well. The evening was restful with his family.

"When, on Wednesday morning, the country learned of their loss - the Berkshire Chronicle was among the first in Reading to obtain official information - it was hard to believe. The blow was staggering. Women burst into tears."

Albert Frederick Arthur George of Windsor, second son of George V and Queen Mary, first visited Reading on July 21, 1927, to open Sol Jol Playing Fields in Earley. He had lunch with Mr S. B. Jol, who donated and equipped the sports park, at Maiden Erlegh, and "thousands of children cheered themselves hoarse" as he arrived for the ceremony.

The newspaper said an elderly woman stepped out from the crowd and offered him a white carnation, which he accepted "smilingly" and with "unfailing courtesy" and placed it in his button hole.

The popular King, known for his stammer, shyness and dislike of pomp and circumstance, was crowned on May 12, 1937, following Edward VIII's abdication, and just two years into his reign - Britain was at war.

As Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Berkshire Regiment, he travelled to Newbury in 1940 to inspect units of the British Expeditionary Force before they headed abroad. In October he visited Kennylands Camp School in Sonning Common, where pupils from Beal Modern School in Illford had been evacuated.

But there was "no public display" or "cheering crowds" when he paid a surprise visit to the busy infantry training centre at Brock Barracks in Oxford Road. The Chronicle wrote: "His Majesty went about his tour in much the same manner as any other senior officer would have done. The normal training routine did not alter and there was no 'spit and polish', which was as the King most desired it to be."

The King watched recruits training in the gym, squads drilling in the square and rifle instruction on the range, and while he smiled now and then, "most of the time his face was grave in the knowledge of what these preparations meant."

George VI and the Queen visited the Royal Merchant Navy School at Bear Wood, of which he was patron, in August 1941 and nine days later, he went to a Berkshire Home Guard camp, where he spoke to the oldest person in the force - 77-year-old Sergt.-Major J. W. Piper. Two years later he was back again, inspecting cadets at the Nautical College in Pangbourne.

His last visit to Reading was in April 1948, when he returned to Brock Barracks. He inspected members of the Royal Berkshire Regiment, Old Comrades' Association and Berkshire Cadet Force, inquired about the married quarters, spoke to the mayor about the town's housing problem and drank sherry in the sergeants' mess.

The newspaper added: "In the NAAFI his humanity and ready sense of humour were revealed when commenting upon paintings of pin-up girls. After lunch the King drove again through delighted Reading."

The King ended his visit at The Forbuy, where he was accorded a Royal salute by a Marines' band and the guard of honour of the 4/6 Battalion the Royal Berkshire Regiment (TA) before returning to Windsor.

The Chronicle continued: "For Reading it was a wonderful occasion; it was to prove the King's farewell to the town."

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 09 Feb 12

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  Tom_Ainsworth
  Unregistered User
  Feb 14, 11:15
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  Excellent look back into the archives, a good idea! (more of this please)
  
  Recommend?   Yes 2     No 0

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  caversham
  Unregistered User
  Feb 15, 08:02
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  I remember as a small child,taken to see the King and Queen as they drove through Reading , we were placed curb side and given a flag to wave ,I have been away from UK now for many years, it has always been a special memory for me ,I left UK as a young woman in the 50s I now live in Canada ,Reading was my home I always retained a fondness and interest ,I wish more photos and old news of Reading could be published ,thank you for bringing that memory to my mind, my Father worked for the Reading Standard and for many years the paper was sent to me here in Canada
  
  Recommend?   Yes 3     No 0

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