Event brings whole nation together
A SIGN that the country was really putting the woes of the war behind it was the wonderful Festival of Britain in 1951.
Amidst this grand and colourful spectacle (opened by the King and Queen) the Dome of Discovery and the Battersea PLeasure Gardens added more grandeur.
The event attracted thousands of visitors from both home and abroad.
Symbolising a spirit of new hope it was something of a tonic to the whole nation.
In spite of this show of extravagance, some austerity remained and the meat ration was actually reduced to the equivalent of just four ounces of steak per week.
Old age pensioners got some cheer when their pensions became payable at age 65 for men and 60 for women. At this time it was reported that the average housewife worked a 75 hour week.
Car firms Morris and Austin merged but still kept their own particular models.
In Parliament, foreign secretary, Ernest Bevin, (then a sick man ) was replaced by Herbert Morrison.
Harold Wilson resigned as he did not agree with health charges brought in by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Hugh Gailskell.
In the October General Election, Winston Churchill was returned to power as the Conservative Leader.
I was myself doing National Service in Egypt's Canal Zone in 1951, and I well remember King Farouk ordering us to leave.
In fact, Britain refused and took control of the Suez canal area.
It was a time of riots and disturbances and I have never forgotten seeing the bodies of very young servicemen murdered by terrorists.
It was my sad duty to assist at the post mortems held at the British Military Hospital at Tel-el-Kebir. Some readers may well have served at this very same desert Garrison.
Princess Elizabeth made TV history in Canada when she made the first ever international telecast. She and the Duke of Edinburgh were deputising for King George VI.
The Americans were forever seeking to achieve records in one thing or another and US pilot, Charles Blair, flew from New York to London in less than eight hours.
He also made the first solo flight over the North Pole; Eamonn De Valera once again became the Prime Minister of Ireland and in Argentina, General Peron was elected President for a sixth term of office.
The Korean War raged on and General MacArthur was sacked by President Truman when he suggested that atomic weapons might be used.
In the Middle East King Abdullah of Jordan and Premier Ali Razmara of Iran were both assassinated. Refugees continued to pour across the 'Iron Curtain' from east to west. One of the most daring escapes occurred when an express train failed to stop at the West German and Czechoslavakian border.
Scores of new films and pop songs abounded. Notable screen successes were 'The African', 'Tom Brown's Schooldays' and 'Captain Horatio Hornblower'.
Some of the many songs were 'I taut I taw a puddy tat', 'Loveliest Night of the Year', 'Bali Hi', 'Some Enchanted Evening',and 'There's nothing like a Dame'.
In New York Yul Brynner and Gertrude Lawrence wowed audiences with the colourful musical, 'The King and I' and Londoners enjoyed 'Kiss me Kate' and 'South Pacific'.
There was the biggest upset in years in boxing when Britain's Randolph Turpin beat Sugar Ray Robinson of the USA to take the World Middleweight Championship only to lose it three months later in the return fight.
September 1951 saw the demise of many well known personalities some of whom were Ernest Bevin, Jazz pianist, Jimmy Yancey, and the famous breakfast cereal chap, Will. K. Kellogg.
Next week in Part 17 - Ration Books are Abolished.
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Weather for Epworth
Friday 18 May 2012
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