Mexborough and Swinton Times January 31, 1936

Tributes to King George V – Conisborough
Links with Royalty
Conisborough’s Kingly Traditions
Loyal Memories

Conisborough Parish Church was filled on Sunday morning when the Civic memorial service in honour of King George V was hell. The officiating clergy was a vicar (the Rev W.G.Pascoe) and the two Assistant Priests (the Rev H Atherton and the Rev B.T.Croft.

The customary prayers were said by the reverent D.T.Croft, lessons be read by the Rev H Atherton, and the special prayers said by the Vicar.

As a prelude to his sermon the Vicar said that they appreciated the presence of representatives of the civic life township in Councillors G. Oldfield, R.J. Troughton and J.I. Webster, of representatives of the Officials in the council and Mr Spencer Baker (Clerk), Mr RW Birchall Mr G.R.Hill, of the Fire Brigades under captain F Gregory, and of the S.J.A.B. and nursing sisters and friendly societies.

“Let Us Praise Famous Men.”

The vicar said this was a national occasion in that ancient historical church of Kings. TaKing as his text “Let Us Praise Famous Men,” he said that there had been in Conisborough, Royal rejoicing and Was for those in a history as old as that of the City of London.

Conisborough had its roots deep in the past. Its people once were citizens of no mean city. He then referred to Sir Walter Scott’s “Ivanhoe” with its account of the lamentations at Conisborough of the passing of the last of the Saxon Kings. Long ago Conisborough was a city of Kings. Now it was a place of departed glory, a ruin of pageantry, pomp and splendour, but it’s loyalty had not gone. It was no longer the home of King but a place with many in distress.

There was ample witness of its loyalty and devotion a month ago, when in its church built by Saxon Kings, the Silver jubilee of King George the fifth was celebrated. No rejoicings were more real and revealing than its tribute of loyalty then.

Last Monday night hearts still and people were struck dumb at the sudden news that the King was pieces fully passing to his end. You pray for mercy on the sole of the King who had endeared himself to his people, and to the world, as a friend of all for his manliness, not only for his Kingliness. He began as an unknown and not a popular figure, but he had shared adversaries and no King in history had been more united with his people.

Conisborough had peculiar cause to remember. We could not forget, as a Councillor reminded Her Majesty the Queen, the Cadeby disaster, and now the visit then to the afflicted and the sympathy extended and left an indelible mark on Conisborough. The King and then shown kindness of heart and an understanding sympathy.

Queen a True Woman

The vicar referred to a visit the King and Queen had paid to a parish in London where he was during the war, when 200 houses were wrecked amongst the poorest in the city, and now the Queen had shown herself a true woman. Such incidents as that endeared the rulers to their people. They had gone to places inhabited by men with hostile intent. They had not received bombs but bouquets. They had not been greeted with curses brought with cheers. In the Great Was the King did not spare his own sons. They had the experiences all ex-servicemen know.

The King’s every message was of sincerity. His family life had been a patent or, he was a regular attendant at Divine service. One of his chaplains was told (the Vicar) how the King had intimate privately to the Court chaplains how short and interesting services were preferred.

And now there was a young man who sat alone, a popular Print, for the same reason as his father had become popular, for his intimate contact with the people. He had shared the brotherhood of the trenches and had persistently up held the cause of those who went to die for their country. He had grasped what the whole world was slowly begin to realise, that you never know the unemployed until you meet them.

Yet proved his consideration for others, for one of his first acts at been to ask that no one should be rendered worse off in this period of national mourning. He had made an excellent start by asKing all to do what they could for everyone else. Our loyalty would be, nonetheless greater than ever before to a constitutional and democratic monarch.

The vicar concluded by saying that a loyal people makes a good King and a God-fearing Prince makes a devout King, and he hoped that all would be able to follow the lead of the new King in all that was right.

Following the sermon the organist (Mr W Farmer) played Chopin’ “Marche Funebre.”

Memorial services for the general public were held in the evening at the Parish church, St Andrews Mission, and at Clifton Mission Church.