THOUSANDS of people flocked to Oxford to hear Edward VIII proclaimed King.

Six ceremonies were held on January 23, 1936, three days after the death of his father, King George V.

These pictures, sent in by Jill Vickers, of Lincoln, show the scene below Carfax Tower.

The previous year, the city and university had combined to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary.

And again, they joined forces to honour and welcome the country’s new King.

That day’s edition of the Oxford Mail reported: “Elaborate police arrangements had been taken for the proclamation ceremonies.

“All the streets in the centre of Oxford were cleared of traffic half an hour before the first ceremony under Carfax Tower, and traffic entering and leaving the city was diverted.

“Special constables were mobilised to help in the task of dealing with the traffic problem and to direct the crowd who flocked into the city to hear the proclamation read.

“A stand, larger than those erected on previous occasions, filled the pavement at the foot of Carfax Tower and a special platform was also erected outside St Mary’s.

“Shortly after 11am, a large crowd began to assemble around the platform and by midday, several thousands were standing shoulder to shoulder.”

Among those given pride of place were representatives of the Oxford Volunteer Fire Brigade, the Oxford-shire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, St John Ambulance Brigade and the British Legion.

Shortly before noon, the civic procession, led by the City Marshal and the Mayor’s Sergeant, bearing the city council’s mace shrouded in crepe, came into view.

Heralded by a fanfare of trumpets, the mayor, Mary Townsend, read the proclamation.

This was followed by a second fanfare. Then everyone sang the National Anthem.

Afterwards, the mayor and other city officials walked to the University Church of St Mary in High Street to take part in the University proclamation ceremony.

Then similar events were held at four other points, where the ancient north, south, west and east gates to the city once stood.

No-one realised that day, of course, that they would soon return to hear another proclamation.

On December 11, King Edward abdicated over his love for divorcee Wallis Simpson, handing the crown to his brother, King George VI, who led the country through the Second World War and was the father of our current monarch.