Free learning resources from arts, cultural and heritage organisations.

Previous section
Bombs and Air Raids

Boosting Morale - Celebrity Visitors

Life was very hard and often frightening during the war years, and keeping up morale was an important job for Britain's leaders. It was important for people to see them out and about, and they made many visits to different part of the country.

 

Anthony Eden - Foreign Secretary

The Foreign Secretary, Anthony Eden, came to Elland Road in Leeds, accompanied by the Lord Mayor, Willie Withey. Mr Eden arrived in Leeds by air on 5 July 1941, and after lunch at the Civic Hall, he went to speak at a big meeting held at Elland Road. 

Anthony Eden and the Lord Mayor of Leeds walk past huge crowds at the football ground.
Anthony Eden and two men walking in front of a crowd at Elland Road football ground

Crowds of local people waited excitedly outside Elland Road for up to three hours before he arrived. When the gates opened at 1.30pm, the Yorkshire Evening News reported that 'the place soon took on a semblance of a trek to a peace-time football cup-tie, as people arrived by tram, car and on foot'. As Mr Eden addressed a crowd of 10,000, two Spitfires planes roared over the city in honour of his visit. 


General Charles de Gaulle

A visit from the leader of one of the Allied countries was even more exciting. A visit from Charles de Gaulle coincided with Ark Royal Week, a fundraising effort to buy a new Ark Royal aircraft carrier. The people of Leeds eventually raised over £9 million in just one week. 

Cowds of onlookers and military personnel on parade outside Leeds Town Hall. Banners can be seen in the background and the nose of an aircraft on the extreme right of the photograph.
De Gaulle addressing a crowd outside Leeds Town Hall

General Charles De Gaulle came to Leeds on 6 February 1942 to inaugurate Allies Day. He was invited to make a speech and to move the target indicator showing how much money had been raised towards the cost of the new Ark Royal. Wild cheering broke out when he announced that their fundraising activities had improved the previous days' efforts by £2,134,287 (over £2 million).

 

Winston Churchill's Victory Tour

Sir Winston Churchill and Lady Churchill visited Leeds in June 1945, as part of a victory tour round the country to celebrate the end of the war. In the photograph below they can be seen waving to the crowds from their open-top car. They have perched on the back of the seats so that the crowds can see them. 

Crowds in Leeds held back by police as Sir Winston and Lady Churchill drive past in an open top car.  They are sitting on the top of the seats so that people can see them.
Churchill in a car driving through a crowd of people in Leeds

Churchill gave a speech from the steps of the Civic Hall, which was largely drowned out by the cheering of the crowds, and affectionate cries of 'Good old Winnie!', and 'Good old cigar!'. The crowds swept aside the police barrier so that they could get closer to their hero. 

Winston Churchill was immensely popular during the war. However, despite this popularity, he lost the General Election on 5 July 1945 to Clement Attlee's Labour Party. People felt that a Labour Government would rebuild post-war Britain and focus on issues that were important to ordinary people.

 

Glossary:

Affectionate - Feeling or showing positive or loving emotions

Coincided - Happened at the same time

Generations - A group of people who were born around the same time

Immensely - To a large degree

Inaugurate - A ceremony that marks the beginning of something 

Morale - How a group of people are feeling

Semblance - the way something seems to be, on the outside