Next week marks the 57th anniversary of the world’s first cosmonaut’s visit to the UK. Three months after his historic spaceflight on 12th April 1961, the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin came to Britain. He was here for 5 days. It was not planned that way. Initially, his visit did not include meeting the Prime Minister or the Queen but his visit evolved through the political posturing of the Cold War and he met both.
His visit to Manchester was the only one outside London. Invited by the Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers (Gagarin had trained as a foundry worker), he visited the union’s HQ in Old Trafford, a factory in Trafford Park and was hosted by the Mayor at the Town Hall in Albert Square.
He arrived at Ringway Airport (now Manchester International Airport) at 10am on Wednesday 12th July and by 4pm he headed back there for his flight to Heathrow. To mark this anniversary, the ebook “Yuri Gagarin in London and Manchester” is being promoted on Amazon for 99p (or cents in USA) between 11th and 15th July. For book reviews – see here. A 91% discount on the normal price.
A timeline of his 5 days in London and Manchester below.
Tuesday 11th July
10:30 Arrival at Heathrow [Guardian 11/7/1961]
11:45 Soviet Embassy [Daily Worker 10/7/1961]
13:00 Earl’s Court [Guardian 12/7/1961]
15:00 Press conference in Fashion Hall Earl’s Court [Guardian 12/7/1961]
16:15 BIS medal award at the end of the press conference [Flight 20/7/1961]
16:30 Leave Earl’s Court [Guardian 12/7/1961]
17:30 Evening reception at Soviet Embassy [Daily Worker 10/7/1961]
Wednesday 12th July
10:00 Arrival at airport [Manchester Evening News 11/07/1961]
10:45 AUFW Medal Ceremony [Guardian 12/7/1961]
11:35 Metropolitan-Vickers at Trafford Park [Manchester Evening News 11/7/1961]
12:45 Manchester Town Hall [Manchester Evening News 11/7/1961]
16:30 Manchester Airport
Thursday 13th July
11:00 Mansion House – Lord Mayor of London [Daily Worker 13/7/1961]
11:45 Tower of London – Gv. Sir Thomas Butler [Daily Worker 13/7/1961]
13:20 Burlington House – Royal Society
15:00 Return to USSR Embassy
15:45 Meet PM at Admiralty House [Prem 11-3543 12/07/1961 National Records Archive]
16:15 Lays wreath at the cenotaph
16:30 Air Ministry in Whitehall – Secretary of State for Air [Daily Worker 13/7/1961]
18:00 Hyde Park Hotel GB USSR Association [Daily Worker 13/7/1961]
19:30 Muscovites-Association cancelled. Sightseeing tour instead [Guardian 14/7/1961]
22:15 Back at USSR Embassy [Daily Worker 13/7/1961]
Friday 14th July
12:50 Buckingham Palace [FO 371-159606 12/07/1961 National Records Archive]
14:45 Soviet Embassy
15:30 Earl’s Court [Daily Worker 14/7/1961]
16:00 Highgate Cemetery [Time is uncertain; The Times 15/7/1961 says “Evening”]
16:40 Soviet Embassy – British Soviet Friendship Society [Daily Worker 14/7/1961]
21:00 Earl’s Court Live BBC TV interview (at 21:30) from Earl’s Court with Richard Dimbleby, Tom Margerison, science editor of the Sunday Times, and Yuri Fokin of the Soviet Television Service [Daily Worker 14/7/1961]
22:15 Soviet Embassy
Saturday 15th July
11:00 Leave Soviet Embassy for Airport [Daily Worker 15/07/61]
11:45 Press conference at Airport
12:35 Depart for Soviet Union [Daily Worker 15/07/61]
18:05 Arrive in Moscow [FO 371-159606 12/07/1961 National Records Archive]
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