RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: erin21 on Saturday 10 February 07 21:03 GMT (UK)
-
Although only just having started Infants School on Coronation day I can distinctly remember standing at the bus stop after school with my mother, holding my Coronation mug given to me at school complete with a bag of sweets!!.
The mug was in our house for many years used by my father as a shaving mug. (Queen would not be impressed).
It eventually got broken and was thrown away,but I always take a second look now when I see one in an antique shop window!! My brother and sister went down to Loncdon and slept overnight on the street to watch the event. cannot inmagine that these days. Does any one else remember the day ??
Erin :)
-
Yes, fraid so. We had just got a TV (very odd as my father never spent money on anything unnecessary - he did not have a car until the late 1960s. Went everywhere on his bike! Typical Yorkshireman) and all the street came in to watch. I had a yellow dress and wore a crown for the street party. I still have my cup, saucer and plate from school. We got a book too.
Andrea
-
On coronation day 1953 I was Six weeks into National service training at Woodside Barracks in the Mount Lofty ranges and was taken to Adelaide City to march through the town.
We were rather rough with our drill.
Our Lieutenant Called a late crash halt as we nearly marched into the proceeding platoon
A rather ragged stop brought a remark from the assembled thousands "They'not very good are they"
A memorable day in this South Australian teenagers life.
-
Hi Erin
I don't remember the coronation - but I do remember the Queen visiting Australia the following year. She travelled everywhere by train & the radio (no TV here) must have announced when the train would be where. My mother told us one afternoon if we went down to the local railway we would see her.
We were mortified when we got there as we had forgotten our flags (every school child had one) so used a stick and hankerchief (ALWAYS had one in pocket) to make a flag. What a raggedy lot we were - the train went past - Queen and Consort were on the back platform waving & we all - about 10 of us - frantically waved our handkerchiefs! ;D
Trish
-
I was one of those who was on the pavement all night. I was 12. My granny took me. We had newspapers and a blanket to keep us warm. We had to "get up" at about 6a.m. to allow more people to come in behind us. We all cheered when the newspaper sellers came and told us Everest had been conquered. We also cheered a man cycling to work.
The Coronation itself was broadcast to us on loud speakers. We were in Pall Mall so we had to wait until after the Coronation for the parade. Of course by now it was raining. It was wonderful. I remember the Queen with the orb on her lap and Churchill hanging out of the carriage window giving his famous V sign. A big memory was the Queen of Tonga who refused to have the roof up on her carriage. She was a very big woman and in the carriage was, I think, the Emperor of Ethiopia who was a very small thin man.
Of course we all cheered the carts which came round after to clean up the horse mess.
We went to Buckingham Palace but there was such a crowd I couldn't see much. Some kind people gave me a lift up to see everyone on the balcony
A very memorable experience. I wrote it all down afterwards and I still have that book but I can't get it on here.
Sylviaann
-
... A big memory was the Queen of Tonga who refused to have the roof up on her carriage. She was a very big woman ...
Queen Salote of Tonga, on her frequent visits to NZ, used to come to the Methodist church where my father was the minister. She was certainly 'statuesque', but always smiling, and always very dignified.
The conquest of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing was probably bigger news in NZ than the coronation - we were so proud! The Queen and Duke went on a commonwealth visit after the coronation and I was present with thousands of other school children in Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, NZ, to cheer as they drove slowly past.
Happy days. :)
Koromo
-
What lovely stories and lovely pictures. Yes it does seem a long while ago now! Where did all the years go?
Erin :o
-
I still have my cup, saucer and plate from school. We got a book too.
Andrea
Andrea
Good for you. obviously a lot more careful than me!
erin ;D
-
My odd memory of Coronation Day was entering the sack race and seeing the face of the local bully as I left him several yards behind me and won first prize. I still have the Coronation books now.
The bully boy had made my life a mystery for several months prior to the event, revenge is a dish best served cold!
-
We had a street party, and treat for the children we went on a coach for a 'mystery tour',
the driver drove us round the promanade and the straight throught the Gas Showroom's window ???
Luckily no one was hurt, but for me it was the most exciting part of the day,
Jakky
-
the driver drove us round the promanade and the straight throught the Gas Showroom's window ???
Jakky
Oh dear bet your mum was worried sick.
Erin ::)
-
On coronation day 1953 I was Six weeks into National service training at Woodside Barracks in the Mount Lofty ranges and was taken to Adelaide City to march through the town.A memorable day in this South Australian teenagers life.
Alftabor
Very impressive. Could do with some of the young ones partaking in some of that to day.!!
love the photo
Erin ;) ;) ;)
-
Hi Erin,
I really can't remember as it all a bit long ago now and I am getting doddery :o but I must remember to use the spell checker re;promenade ::)
Jakky
-
I can remember the rain...............
All of us kids were invited in to watch the Coronation on the only television in the street, belonging to a dear old gentleman.
We were stunned and very quiet.
Then we had our street party...and the rain came down, and they tried to get us to go into some big garages that had been emptied for us. Well, it smelt horrible in there, and no one wanted to go. So they opened the school up and we had our party in the school hall.
I think some of us would have preferred to be out in the rain<laugh>
-
Paula
Funny what you remember. I wonder if the Queen is reading this??
Erin ;D ;D
-
I remember the Coronation because my father promised my mother we could have a television so she could watch! The only thing was we actually got it some weeks earlier so that my father could watch the 1953 cup final between Blackpool and Bolton.[We could do with Stanley Matthews now!]
I also remember that we had about 20 young men in our small living room, also watching the final. My father ran an amateur football team called Whitefield Youth and they all came. My mother and I spent all morning making sandwiches etc.
I was 9 and I still have my cup and saucer and book!
-
My mother and I spent all morning making sandwiches etc.
I was 9 and I still have my cup and saucer and book!
kooky
Those were the days!! ::)
A man's world As ever ;)
Erin
-
Paula
Funny what you remember. I wonder if the Queen is reading this??
Erin ;D ;D
I'm sure she uses this site to look for those elusive ancestors. ;D
-
Paula
I'm sure she uses this site to look for those elusive ancestors. ;D
mmmmmmmmm
Erin ::)
-
We had a fancy dress party on the local field - I HATED dressing up!
Pictures of our party and others in the area can be seen here: http://www.eastkent.freeuk.com/dover/entertainment/misc/coronation/coronation_party.htm
I have vague memories of going to someone's house to try on the costume and of standing on a table in the marquee for the judging - it was a month before my 4th birthday!
Regards, (a very embarrassed) Bill
-
I do remember the Coronation but the death of the King sticks in my mind even more.
I was 6 years old and was very ill with the remnants of measles and the start of chicken pox when every one seemed to be running out into the street, my mother included, shouting that the King had died.I was too ill to get out of bed couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.
We didn't have a television at the time of the coronation but I remember going to my great grandmothers house because she did have one with a screen of about 8 inches.
-
Bill
How sweet and what a perfect photo.
Erin :D
-
I do remember the
We didn't have a television at the time of the coronation but I remember going to my great grandmothers house because she did have one with a screen of about 8 inches.
I bet the surround measured about 38inches!!!!
Erin
-
Erin, you are not far wrong. What would they think of the 42 in Plasma screens that are around now I wonder.
-
cannot inmagine that these days
The death of Princess Di certainly brought the crowds out.
I used to go through Knightsbridge in the early hours of the morning around that time and there used to be hundreds of people outside Harrods at 4 or 5 o'clock in the morning laying flowers, reading cards and lighting candles.
On the morning of the funeral there were many people already assembled around Wellington Arch at 5 o'clock in the morning. Some were still in their sleeping bags, others were eating breakfast.
downside
-
I was too young to remember much about the actual day but I think I wore a yellow tafetta dress and I have still got the half a crown coin in its original case.
-
cannot inmagine that these days
The death of Princess Di certainly brought the crowds out.
As did the death of the QM and the Jubilee
I queued for hours to see the QM lying in state - met some wonderful folks & heard many old time stories.
Being a long way from home - was also in the mall June 2002 - with the odd million other folks. Couldn't even see the TV screens, let alone the Royal party - but even my man enjoyed it - after not being too impressed about going - I loved it
Trish
-
We had a carnival in our little village, fancy dress, floats, the works. I was QE1. Mum made me a crinoline thingy...... I can still feel the wire sticking in me! I have a piccie of me in my costume and no you can't see it!
-
We had a party in the street for Coronation Day.....I was 10 and remember it well.
Dad bought our first television for the occasion....a 9 inch screen in a 30' cabinet!
Dad was a business man and bought a tin of sweets for every child on our street. The tin had a picture of the Queen on top...it was wonderful....the tin and the Coronation.!
-
Here is my Coronation day photo - London.
The lady is my cousins' grandma and six of those in this photo ended up in Australia and N.Z.
I remember at school being chosen to pick a name ' out of the hat ' for someone to be given a seat on the procession route. I still know the girl's name !
We were given a tin of sweets and a red, white and blue striped propelling pencil.
There was a stage set up in the street for entertainment and earlier in the day we were all in fancy dress.
We watched the Coronation on TV and I remember in the evening Norman Wisdom was on and I laughed and laughed. If I am right there was also a Shakespearean play.
I am the one with the hat........
We came to N.Z. the following year.
-
Hi Emmeline
The lasses on the right standing so straight - reminds one of the teachers saying "stand up straight - shoulders back". :) :) Its a wonderful family pic
Trish
-
Trish - Glad you enjoyed the photo - hard to believe it is almost 53 years old !
Sylviaann - Your mention of Queen Salote and the insignificant man in her carriage reminded me of the famous Noel Coward story.
He was watching the procession when her carriage went by and was asked ' Who is that sitting with the Queen ?'
He looked very hard and pronounced ' her lunch ' ! ::)
-
I was born 7 weeks after the King died so was only 14 months old at the time of the Queen's coronation in 1953.
All the children in the village were presented with a New Testament bible to commemorate the Coronation - it's up on my bookshelf now :)
(http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b27/anniemcc/smilies/Cheers.gif) Ann
-
Ann
Hope its well read
Erin ;)
-
In the mid 1970's my family were replacing some old lino in the kitchen, in those days they put newspaper down as an underlay.
The newspapers we found were 1953 and were about the Coronation.
I wish I kept them.
Margaret
-
I remember watching the Coronation on a very small tv screen. It was also the first and last time I tasted sherry.
Does anyone else remember the pictures of sections of the procession published in a comic which could be pasted together to make up the whole thing?
Margaret
-
I was 5. The only one of our neighbours who had a television didn't get on with the adults round about, so she invited all the children to watch the coronation - but not the adults. So we saw it but our mother didn't. The LEA gave every schoolchild a special teaspoon. ;D
-
I have a piccie of me in my costume and no you can't see it!
Oh, go on ..... ;)
-
I have a piccie of me in my costume and no you can't see it!
Oh, go on ..... ;)
Go on go on go on!!!!
Erin
-
It's lovely to read all your memories..............
and I am so surprised to see that i am a 'babe' to you all, :o :o
in fact i have just had to go and look up the actual date
2nd June 1953
and can now safely say I wasn't even a twinkle in my father's eye, well not for a few more months anyway ;D ;D
-
I was 9 and I remember it rained. And I remember wearing a beautiful red, white and blue dress with a wonderfully flouncy skirt, sent over specially for the occasion by our American relatives - they had sent us regular parcels of 'goodies' throughout the war years and during the lean times afterwards, and probably this dress came in one of the last parcels.
At school we were all given celebration mugs, donated by a wealthy local mill owner, and also a long, thin purple tin with the Queen's head on it, filled with small Cadbury's chocolates, that could be used as a pencil case afterwards. I still have it somewhere!!
Maggie
-
I've still got a little red tin that we had for the Coronation.
Heaven knows what was in it, I can't remember, but my Father used it to keep his postage stamps in afterwards.