The Knutsford Guardian reported the dramatic events and reaction to the news at a meeting of the junior conservative divisional council at the Marcliff cinema.

There, Brigadier General E Makin, MP for Knutsford division, said the events showed the world what an extraordinary race the British were.

"There is no country in the world in which the people have the character to go through such a period of monarchial changes with such restraint," he said.

The King had announced his decision in a moving radio broadcast.

He told the nation that he was unable to perform his royal duties without the help and support of the woman he loved.

In Knutsford the dramatic events were followed by reports chronicling the rise of King George VI.

Historic customs were repeated in the town when the proclamation of the succession was read by the High Sheriff of Cheshire, R G Tatton, from the steps of the Sessions House.

A reporter described the scene outside the Sessions House: "A chill wind fluttered the flags above the various public buildings noisily and swept the late lingering leaves from neighbouring trees across the cobbled frontage of the grim, weather-beaten building as a crowd of several hundred gathered."

School lessons were suspended for the occasion and children were filed into a roped enclosure before the older spectators.

Traffic was diverted away from Toft Road during the ceremony.

Two scarlet-jacketed trumpeters took up their positions and a hush fell over the chattering crowds as the High Sheriff and others filed through the massive doors, opened only on occasions of importance.

A shrill fanfare and the strident voice of the usher demanded silence for the High Sheriff's solemn declaration.

And when he'd finished, Knutsford and Cross Town Silver Band struck up the National Anthem.

Knutsford crowd gathered outside Sessions House to hear news

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.