OXFORD came to a standstill on the day King George V was buried.

People wore black ties, black armlets and morning dress, flags flew at half-mast and shop windows were draped in black crepe as the city mourned.

The Oxford Mail reported: “At 1.30pm, the pulse of life was suddenly stilled in the city.

“Cars, buses, cyclists and pedestrians came to a standstill, hats were removed and heads bowed for the two minutes’ silence.”

A perfectly preserved copy of the Mail’s special edition that day, Tuesday, January 28, 1936, was found by Peter Leach, of Headley Way, Headington, in his family archives.

Many shops and businesses closed for the day in honour of a man who, according to the paper, was, as head of state, “not only a figurehead, but a well-beloved personality”.

The Oxford Mail reported: “Churches in which special memorial services were held were crowded.

“Many more listened over the wireless as the body was laid in its last resting place at Windsor before sorrowing thousands of loyal subjects.”

Hundreds of people had to be turned away from a special memorial service held at Oxford’s Christ Church Cathedral.

The report added: “Great Tom provided a solemn overture. At 11.15am, the great bell began tolling and continued at half-minute intervals until it had struck 70 times – once for each year of the King’s life.

“Forty minutes before the service was timed to begin, the cathedral was full, and hundreds of people had regretfully to turn away.

“When all the official places were occupied, scores who had waited were packed into every available square inch of space.

“Others for whom there was no room braved a biting wind and followed the service from outside.”

Services were also held in churches in many other parts of the county.

The Mail – then a broadsheet – devoted the front and back pages and three inside pages to the funeral procession through London, the funeral train’s journey from Paddington station to Windsor and the service in St George’s Chapel, at Windsor Castle.

And how did the Mail get pictures of the scenes in London so quickly?

A brief paragraph of thanks revealed how it was done.

“The Oxford Mail wishes to record its gratitude to Cecil Kimber, managing director of the MG Car Company, who very generously supplied an MG car in which the photographs of the Royal funeral in London were rushed to Oxford this morning.”