Oxford joined the rest of the country in mourning the death of King George V.

Many events were cancelled as a mark of respect to the King, who died late on Monday, January 20, 1936.

The city responded to an appeal by the mayor, Councillor Mrs Townsend, that “all public social functions arranged this week be cancelled or postponed”.

Theatres and cinemas closed and many social and sporting activities were called off.

The Oxford Mail printed a special eight-page supplement at midnight to tell its readers of the King’s death.

The supplement was also included in Tuesday’s edition, a copy of which was found by Dorothy and Peter Leach, of Headley Way, Headington, Oxford, in their family archives.

Buckingham Palace ann- ounced that there would be court mourning for nine months – and advice was given to citizens who wanted to join in.

“In the case of men, a black tie and a black hat may be worn, while in the case of women, hats, dresses and costumes either of black or black and white will be the general vogue.”

People had been prepared for bad news after an announcement on Monday evening that the King’s life “was moving peacefully towards its close”.

But it still came as a great shock to many people, who held the King in high esteem.

As the King’s life ebbed away, 300 Post Office engineers and their guests were enjoying a social at Carfax Assembly Rooms.

The Mail reported: “When his passing was announced, the news was received in deep silence and the festivities, which were to have continued until the early hours, were at once abandoned.

“The enjoyment which had previously prevailed was immediately forgotten and young and old returned to their homes in great sorrow.“ In the city streets, according to the paper: “People spoke in hushed silence, a silence broken only by the tolling of Great Tom from Christ Church tower.

“The bell tolled 70 times – once for each year of the King’s life – at half-minute intervals.”

The Mail recalled the King’s last visit to Oxford when he and Queen Mary attended a garden party to mark the 400th anniversary of Christ Church.

In an editorial, the paper praised the King as a “good man and a devoted ruler”.

Edward VIII was proclaimed King, but soon abdicated in favour of his brother, George VI.