The Proclamation of the Accession of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952

ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY THE FIRST, A COLD GREY MORNING, AT 11 A.M. in the market-place of the town of Bungay, the Town Reeve, Mr John M. Clay, supported by fellow feoffees, members of the Town Council, and civic dignitaries, read the following proclamation :

Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God to call to His mercy our late Sovereign Lord King George Sixth of blessed and glorious memory, by whose decease the Crown is solely and rightfully come to the high and mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary.
We therefore the Lords spiritual and temporal of this realm being here assisted with these his late Majesty's Privy Council, with representatives of other members of the Commonwealth, with other principal gentlemen of quality, with the Lord Mayor, aldermen and citizens of London, do now hereby with one voice and consent of tongue and heart publish and proclaim that the high and mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary is now by the death of our late Sovereign of happy memory become Queen Elizabeth the Second by the grace of God, Queen of this realm and of her other realms and territories, head of the Commonwealth, defender of the faith, to whom her lieges do acknowledge all faith and constant obedience with hearty and humble affection, beseeching God, by whom kings and queens do reign, to bless the Royal Princess, Elizabeth the Second, with long and happy years to reign over us.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN

The George. VI Memorial Service
On February 15, 1952, a United Memorial Service for His late Majesty King George VI was held in the parish church of St. Mary, at which the Rector, the Reverend W. Lummis, the Congregational minister, the Reverend A. Fincham, and the Methodist minister,
Pastor R. Emerson, officiated. The service was attended by the Town Reeve, Mr. John M. Clay, who read the Lesson, from Revelation, chapter twenty-one, the feoffees and Town Councillors, as well as many of the townsfolk, among them Mr. Richard Clay and many
members of the Chaucer Press.