27th March 1953
LIFE OF ROYAL COURAGE

The nation is mourning the loss of a gracious personality and a great Queen. Queen Mary, who had been unwell for some weeks and confined to her home at Marlborough House, London, died in her sleep on Tuesday night. On the previous day, reassuring statements were made on her condition, and some hope was felt that she might recover in time for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11, but on Tuesday she suffered a relapse. She would have been aged 86 in May.

As Princess Victoria Mary, the only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Teck, she was born in Kensington Palace, and married Prince George, later King George V, in 1893. Prince George succeeded to the Throne in 1910, on the death of his father, King Edward VII, and throughout the 26 years of his reign she was to him an unfailing source of strength and encouragement.

A woman of grace and great dignity, she retained the affection of the people throughout her long life. Ample demonstration of the place she held was seen in 1935, when she and King George celebrated their silver jubilee of their reign amid scenes of great enthusiasm and expressions of loyalty. There were many tragedies in her life, but she met them with courage and fortitude. In 1891 she was betrothed to the Duke of Clarence, the elder son of King Edward VII, who was then the Prince of Wales. He died shortly afterwards. She was still in her sixties when her husband died. In 1936 she saw the eldest son, now the Duke of Windsor, renounce the throne. During the last war her youngest son, the Duke of Kent, was killed in a flying accident and last year came the death of her second son, King George VI.

Between the two wars, Queen Mary frequently visited Yorkshire, and stayed with her daughter, the Princess Royal, at Harewood House. The Pontefract and Castleford district did not receive a State visit from her, but she was in Pontefract informally in August 1935. Always an ardent collector and authority on antiques, she visited the shop of Messrs Farr and Son, in Castle Chain, and bought a tea tray.

The death of Queen Mary will not affect the plans for the Coronation on June 2nd, but there will be court mourning for a month. She will lie in state in Westminster Hall until Tuesday morning, and then the coffin will be taken privately by car to Windsor, where she will be laid to rest with King George V in the South aisle of St. George’s Chapel.

Yesterday, a letter of sympathy was sent to the members of the Royal Family by the Mayor of Pontefract, Alderman F.D. Leach, on behalf of the people of Pontefract. A memorial service is to be held at the Pontefract Parish Church at noon on Tuesday.