“Pat, go back into school and tell the teacher that I have just heard the announcement on the wireless that the King has died.”
Patricia
I was 10 in December 1951 and in Standard 3 in the Primary Section of Hunslet Carr Girl’s School. In those days children were separated at the end of infant education and at 7 boys transferred to the boy’s school where the headmaster was Mr Tindall. The girls (aged from 7 to 15, the school leaving age) moved into the girl’s school where the head was Miss Dailey.
On February 6th 1952 the class teacher, who I think was Miss North sent me on an errand to the corner shop across the road from school. In those days there were no health and safety regulations so I was trusted to cross the road safely. I cannot remember what I was sent to buy for the teacher.
I crossed the road, opened the shop door and the bell rang. This signalled that were was someone in the shop. Mrs Ramsden, who owned the shop came through from her living quarters to find me. She knew who I was, as she was a friend of my nana. They went to whist drives together.
She didn’t ask what I wanted instead she said “Pat, go back into school and tell the teacher that I have just heard the announcement on the wireless that the King has died.”
I turned around, left the shop, crossed the road again and ran back into school to tell the teacher the news. Quite a responsibility for a ten year old.
A memory that has stayed with me - and now we have a new King.