When advertisements were swept off. the front cover of the magazine and replaced by full colour photographs, the date went down in history. Eight days before, Sir Winston Churchill suffered a cerebral thrombosis following a cold at his home in Hyde Park Gate. On January 23, 1965, the ILN published the first of their regular cover pictures - a photograph of Sir Winston (number 6547, vol. 246) with a cover story simply entitled ‘Churchill: the world waits anxiously’.
The following week Churchill was dead. A very bleak and sombre front cover
shows the Union Jack flying at half mast over Westminster Abbey.
A detailed essay by Sir Charles Petrie, Sir Winston’s Varied Career,
tells of his colourful life and times from Boer War reporter to Prime
Minister. This issue (number 6548, vol. 246) shows the world paying tribute
to him and preparations for the funeral.
The special number of the ILN which appeared on February 6, 1965, devoted 40 pages of pictures and reports to the most detailed record of the lying-in-state and funeral
(Appendix List No. 169). The magazine shows the crowds
of thousands queuing up to offer homage at the lying-in-state in Westminster
Hall; the funeral procession to St. Paul’s Cathedral where the funeral
service was held with the Queen as chief mourner, and the journey by boat
to the Oxfordshire village of Bladon where he was buried, only a mile
away from Blenheim Palace where he was born.
A reviewer of Churchill‘s life and career a few years later was
to write of this copy of the ILN: “Today that issue is treasured
more than any other. Parents keep it for their children, librarians guard
it, and historians treat is as the definitive record.”
The front cover shows the Lying-in-State in Westminster Hall. The catafalque
is covered with a garnet red carrpet, the four foot high bier is draped
with black velvet edged with silver and the coffin is covered with the
Union Flag. At its head stands a gold and jewelled cross and round about
it six tall amber candles burn in massive gilt candlesticks. On the coffin,
on a black silk cushion, rest Collar, Garter and Star of Sir Winston’s
insignia as Knight of the Garter.
This is issue number 6549, vol. 246, pages 1-45, measuring 37 x 26 cm
and priced at two shillings and sixpence.