THE death of Sir Winston Churchill, 50 years ago on Sunday, January 24, 1965, plunged the nation into deep mourning - including in Craven where Skipton could claim a connection to the former Prime Minister, already being called the greatest Englishman of the time. Lesley Tate investigates.

SIR Winston Churchill was 90 years old when he died at his home, Hyde Park Gate, London, and with him was his personal physician, Skipton-born Charles Wilson, Lord Moran.

Lord Moran was born at the top of the town's High Street where his father, the late Dr JF Wilson, was in medical practice. Before being made a peer, Moran was Dr Charles McMoran Wilson and lived in a house on the left hand side of the High Street, facing the parish church.

The house later became a shop and, at the time of Churchill's death, was the branch office of the Yorkshire Post. A Cyril Carr, of Skipton, claimed that his mother knew the Wilsons very well and for several years was the future Lord Moran's nannie.

"Thus, Skipton can claim a close link with Sir Winston," reported the Craven Herald at the time, which went on to say there was no record of Churchill ever having visited Skipton, though he must have passed through it several times "by road or rail".

Lord Moran, who died in April, 1977, served in the Royal Army Medical Corps in World War One, and was president of The Royal College of Physicians from 1941 to 1949. He was chiefly known as as Churchill's personal physician and 15 months after his death, published The Struggle for Survival. It caused a great deal of controversy as it described Churchill's failing health in detail and was seen as a breach of patient-physician confidentiality.

He was also the Dean of St Mary's Hospital Medical School between 1920 and 1945, where he oversaw the rebuilding of the premises, and was a prominent scientist in his day.

In an editorial, the Herald said it had been a most remarkable week of mourning following Churchill's death, and one which would be remembered for many years.

In years to come, people would look back and remember the death of Sir Winston, in the same way their grandparents remembered the passing of Queen Victoria or Prime Minister Gladstone.

His portrait would appear in many Craven homes, and even though his actions may be criticised by future generations, it would not happen while the current generation still lived, said the Herald.

He was, added the Herald, a "great Englishman, a noble patriot and a man beloved of all the people".

"Almost as if he were one of our own family, we have watched fearfully during his illness, felt our loss at his passing, and shall mourn at his funeral," said the Herald. "While we have respected the tributes of the famous men and women at the ceremonial of his farewell, we have known that we have shared will millions of ordinary mortals all over the world our own deep sense of loss and bereavement."

As soon as his death was announced, flags were flown at half-mast across Craven. For the previous week, Lord Moran's bulletins, given several times a day, had been followed with great concern. But still, his death had come as a shock, many taking it as a personal loss as much as the ending of an era.

Telegrams from civic leaders across Craven were dispatched to Sir Winston's widow, Lady Churchill and Cllr W Pollard, chairman of Settle Rural Council paid tribute at a meeting of the council. He was convinced that had it not been for the tenacity and leadership of Sir Winston in the 1940s, they would not all have been sitting in the council chamber. On the day of his death, the bells of St Alkelda's Church, Giggleswick, were rung 'half muffled' in tribute.

His death also brought to mind an incident which took place in May, 1950, involving 100 former pupils and staff of Brougham Street Secondary School. The school party had been on the 3am night train from Skipton to Edinburgh and en route had got off for a bite to eat and drink. It was there they were told that Sir Winston was currently in a sleeping car and would shortly be crossing the platform to go to the station hotel.

The children and staff immediately formed a Guard of Honour from the sleeping car to the hotel, and after a brief hesitation, Sir Winston left the train and passed along the double line of children. When he got to the end, he turned and made his famous V sign salute. The incident had come at a particularly difficult time for Churchill - just three months earlier, the general election had resulted in the unexpected defeat of his party, and his arrival in Scotland had not warranted the Red Carpet treatment.

His funeral was held on the Saturday following his death and as a mark of respect, football matches were delayed and players wore black armbands. The State funeral, attended by Skipton MP Burnaby Drayson, took place at St Paul's Cathedral, London. Churchill's body was carried on a gun carriage from Westminster Hall, where it had been lying in state for three days.

The service included a 17 gun salute and a fly past by the RAF and was 'fully covered' by television and radio, and his body was eventually laid to rest in St Martin's Church, Bladon, Oxfordshire.

A memorial service at Skipton Parish Church, the day after his funeral, was attended by several civic leaders and representatives of the police, fire, St John Ambulance, scouts and guides. He was a "man sent by God", said the Rev M B Slaughter, one of the many speakers. In his opening address, the Rev LA Wilman, church curate, said they were there to give thanks to the Lord for such a great man, and also to commend his soul to Heaven. Mention was also made of the number of people who had attended the service, even though most would have seen the funeral on television.

As a man of destiny, Mr Slaughter said Churchill's life and work had worldwide significance and would go down in history books. It was no coincidence, he said that Churchill had been there to lead the country at such a time of trouble.