Amos Brook Hirst and King George VI, possibly at the 1950 Cup Final.
My mum and uncle absolutely loved their Grandpa Amos. His son Geoffrey. their father, died when they were very young and I think he clearly tried to fill some of that void. He took my uncle, then a young boy, to London with him when he was Knighted. He regaled my mum with stories of sitting with the Princess Elizabeth at Wembley.
Here I’ve tried to annotate the photos I have of him. If you can help fill in any of the blanks then get in touch with me. Email: ossiehirst at me dot com
Amos with his grandchildren, my uncle Anthony and my Mum Sue.
England v Wales 1940
13 April 1940 at Wembley Stadium. England 0 – Wales 1
Earl of Athlone shaking hands with Stanley Matthews. Team is Compton, Willingham, Matthews, Copping, Gouldenm Bacuzzi, Bartram.
England v Scotland 1941
4th October 1941
Churchill, Scotland. No idea on date?
England v Scotland 1942
Mrs. Churchill’s Aid to Russia match. Great Pathé report here. January 17th, Wembley Stadium. England win 3-0.
These must be photos from the same match. Mrs Churchill.Mrs Churchill
The 1946 FA Cup Final
The first Cup Final since 1939. ABH shown in Pathé footage narrating the game to Princess Elizabeth.
Derby captain Jack Nicholas introduces the King to his team with ABH on the left in pin stripes.
Unknown, ABH, QE2, ?, George 6, Earl of Athlone, QM, Unknown, UnknownGeorge VI hands trophy to Derby County skipper Jack Nicholas after they defeated Charlton Athletic 4-1 after extra time. ABH behind the cup.
The 1947 FA Cup Final?
ABH, Clement Attlee. Possibly 1947 Cup Final where Attlee can be seen in the closing shots of this Pathe footage.
King George VI hands the trophy to Manchester United captain Johnny Carey after they beat Blackpool and Stanley Matthews 4-2 in the all-Lancashire final.ABH introduces the King to Blackpool’s players
The 1949 FA Cup Final
Pathé footage here. April 30th at the Empire Stadium.
Duke of Gloucster shaking hands with Leicester City player. Duke of Edinburgh chats to team behind. ABH and the Earl of Athlone make up the FA party.Princess Elizabeth presents the cup to Billy Wright, captain of the victorious Wolverhampton Wanderers after they claimed victory against Leicester in an all midlands final. Duke of Ed lurks in the background.
The 1950 FA Cup Final
Movietone footage here. Arsenal in yellow and white strip, beat Liverpool 2-0
Captain Joe Mercer introducing George VI to ?Dennis Compton?ABH, Unknown, Stanley Rouse, Earl of Athlone, KG6
The 1951 FA Cup Final?
I assume this is 51 becuase the other newcastle final, below, was with Churchill instead of the King.
The 1952 FA Cup Final
Movietone footage here. Apparently a novel experience for Churchill. Wembley Stadium, May 3rd. Newcastle 1 – Arsenal 0.
Introducing Churchill to the Newcastle team.Newcastle receiving the FA Cup from Churchill after beating Arsenal.
QE2 giving a medal to Stanley Matthews as Blackpool beat Bolton.
Love the guy with the eyepatch!
“The Match of the Century” 1953
Famous match in which the Olympic champions Hungary lead by the legendary Ferenc Puskás humbled England 6-3.
ABH introduces the Earl of Athlone to Stanley Matthews.
Other occasions
Don’t know who this is with ABHABH and Duke of Edinburgh. Rouse and ? behind.Shaking hands with unidentified military man. Rouse on the left.I don’t think this is Wembley?King Haakon of NorwayFA Countil meeting. FA Cup semi-final draw 11/03/1946. Rouse, ABH and Mr. Ancell (Vice Chairman) to his left.? Possibly this matchThe anthems, Wembley. ABH, Georve VI, Athlone behind.England team?KG6, ABH, QM, King Haakon of Norway (England v Wales at Wembley)England v Wales match in aid of the The Red Cross, Prisoners of War and Mrs Churchill’s Aid To Russia funds. Unknown date?Earl of Athlone, distinctive unknown man, ABH, KG6Rouse, ABH & unknown. FA Cup draw?Interested in the top left gent.These two the same occasion? Why the military dress?George VI in different military gear. Air force?Same occasion surely?ScotlandUnknown french dignitary or General.Not Charles de Gaulle but another French statesman or General. England match?What is this trophy? the FA Amateur Cup? Is this Wembley?Violet Hilda Hirst (my great grandmother) Countess of Athlone, Earl of Athlone. The Dorchester, Park Lane.Greeting Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone. The board in the background read The Football Association 1953 FIFA Reunion.Different occasion, see white tie.No idea on this one.Don’t know which FA Cup Final this isAssume this is FA staff outside the offices. Amos and Violet centre left. Is this Lancaster Gate?This is much earlier. George V receiving Huddersfield Town. It’s not 1922 when they won the Cup. I think it is 1930 where they lost to Arsenal. No obvious sign of Brook Hirst though he would likely have been in the box as Chairman? A young George VI far left. Could be ABH’s head just above him. Fascinating match as Arsenal were managed by Herbert Chapman, five years after he had left Huddersfield after winning so much with them. Amazing film of the match including Zeppelin fly past https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7NC-hgWqzMDuke of Edinburgh meeting which team? Has an Elephant on the badge but isn’t Coventry. 1953?Violet Hilda Hirst, Amos Brook Hirst and unknownLooks to be a lineup of FA men. “The men in suits”? Rouse, Athlone, Brook Hirst.
In 1955 after his death, England wore black arm bands for their match against Spain.
