On the 3rd of May 1957 Mrs Gladys Axon received the following letter.
10 Downing Street Whitehall 2nd May 1957
Madam
I have the honour to inform you that the Queen has been graciously pleased to approve the Prime Minister’s recommendation that the George Cross be awarded posthumously to your husband, John Axon.
John Axon was a railway man to steam trains born and bred, He was an engine driver at Edgeley loco shed, He was a man of courage and served the iron way - He gave his life upon the track one February day.
The Ballad of John Axon was the work of Ewan MacColl and Charles Parker.
The lyrics were written by Ewan MacColl, who also, with the exception of two songs set to traditional airs, composed the music and himself sang the part of narrator.
The instrumental arranging and musical direction was by Peggy Seeger, who also played the banjo.
The vocalists were AL Lloyd, Isla Cameron, Stan Kelly, Dick Loveless, Charles Mayo and Colin Dunn.
And the instrumentalists were Jim Bray, bass; Terry Brown, trumpet; Bob Clark, fiddle; John Cole, harmonica; Fitzroy Coleman, guitar, who also sang the West Indian fireman calypso; Bryan Daly, guitar; Alf Edwards, English concertina; Billy Loch, drums; Bobby Mickleburgh, trombone; and Bruce Turner, clarinet.