PONTEFRACT IN 1952

17th October 1952
To The Memory of King George VI

Leaders of civic life in the Pontefract and Castleford districts and the West Riding drew attention this week to local funds opened to provide a permanent memorial to King George VI. The chairman of the West Riding County Council, Alderman T. Tomlinson, said;

"I would commend this very worthy proposal to the generosity of the people and of the organisations in this large county for their support. We are agreed that any memorial to our late King must be a worthy one, and this appeal affords all of us an opportunity to show that we value deeply the memory of his high example and devotion to duty."

The Mayor of Pontefract, Alderman F.D. Leach, states:

"On the death of His Majesty the nation gave a moving and spontaneous demonstration of the deep feeling with which it will remember his life and reign. There will be a universal wish to perpetuate that memory with some lasting expression of gratitude, so that future generations may know that he was a King who, by constant devotion to his people’s welfare, by his self-sacrifice and example of his family life, won not only their loyalty but their deep affection, I have decided to open a fund."