Coronation Day 1953

[erin21]

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

[sillgen]

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

[alftabor]

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.

[trish251]

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! 

Trish

[Sylviaann]

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

[Koromo]

... 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

[erin21]

What lovely stories and lovely pictures. Yes it does seem a long while ago now!  Where did all the years go?

Erin

[erin21]

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

[Emjaybee]

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!