The West Midlands mourns the King's passing, and celebrates the new Queen - a look back at the 1950s
Mark Andrews takes a look back through the decades to mark the Express & Star's 150th anniversary. Here's the fabulous 1950s.
The King is dead. Long live the Queen.
The death of King George VI on February 6, 1952, plunged the West Midlands into a period of mourning. The 'reluctant King', who was just 56 years old, died peacefully in his sleep at Sandringham. He had been ill for some time, and the previous September his left lung had been removed. He had been well enough to open the Festival of Great Britain in May 1951, but in the months that followed his eldest daughter Elizabeth had been playing an increasing role in royal duties.
The classic 'spare', Prince Albert of York had never expected to become King. But the shock abdication of his brother King Edward VIII in 1936 saw him plunged into the spotlight. Three years after his reign, Britain was at war. Indeed, the stress of the war was believed to have had a major impact on his health, although he was also a heavy smoker.
People across the region were plunged into grief, and a special edition of the Express and Star was produced.Wolverhampton's head postmaster Mr W C Forsyth said that, unless instructed otherwise, the Post Office would remain open and communications would not be interrupted.
A concert by the London Philharmonic Orchestra at Wolverhampton Civic Hall was cancelled as a mark of respect.
Flags on buildings throughout the town were flown at half mast, and mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor James Beattie, sent a telegram to the Queen. Messages expressing sympathy were also sent by the chairman of the councils in Cannock, Rugeley and Brownhills.
