Published in Windlesora 19 (2002)
© WLHG
I remember that Mr Bertram, Headmaster of Clewer Green School, was suddenly concerned to inform the entire school about the excellence of King George V. A matter that until then may have barely entered our tiny minds.
Someone of distinction had written a song and we had to memorise both words and tune. It seems that we would be obliged to sing that song (in company with other Windsor Schools) — presumably in the Home Park — and almost certainly in the presence of His Majesty. The only words that I can remember now are ‘…borne on the breeze — o’er seven seas ….’
I suppose the reference was to the King’s rule over his far-flung Empire. The loyalty and extent of the Empire was much emphasised at that time, as was the King’s own qualities, mostly summed up in the title suggested at the time of his death in 1936, King George the Dutiful. In our school and surely in most others, wall atlases of the entire world were richly emblazoned with red and, at around this time too, we at Clewer Green were taught religiously about an Empire Christmas Pudding. It seems that all its diverse ingredients could be garnered from one or other of the countries that constituted the British Empire. We were taught to be inordinately proud of that pudding.
Until about twenty years ago I knew exactly where to find an aluminium beaker on which was stamped profile images of the King and his Queen, Mary of Teck. It was one of thousands of such beakers that were presented to the school children of Windsor by the Mayor on that day of celebration in the Home Park. Surely the second-hand and antique shops of Windsor must see them quite often, though alas I don’t think they will see mine. Neither will they see my copy of the album published by John Player & Sons (price one penny) in which I keep my collection of cigarette cards depicting The Kings and Queens of England 1066-1935. I’m hanging on to that!
John Spencer
Note
The portrait of King George V is from the cigarette card.
Windsor Local History Group 