Memories from 60 years ago

1. Memories from 60 years ago By residents of St Dominick past and present

3. Let’s party! • Streets were closed and lined with trestle • tables and seats. All the ladies cooked. • There was bunting everywhere • - even the lamp posts were decorated. • Everyone had red, white and blue hats, • special aprons for the ladies and • special coronation paper cups. • I still have happy memories of the day • and a glass souvenir bowl • which belonged to my mother. • Linda Fry

4. With my East London neighbours in 1953 Northbank Road, Walthamstow, London E17 Linda Fry

5. I went as the Queen (I was six)My dress was made from crepe paper and my crown made from a Persil washing powder box I won 1st prize much to my family's delight There was a fancy dress competition for the children Everything had to be made from paper or cardboard Linda Fry The boy next door was a soldier My little sister (aged 4) went as a rosette

7. Listening to the radio • In those days most people listened on the radio. Radios were operated by 'accumulators' which were square chargeable glass containers holding acid and rain water. They had to be charged at Fred Rogers’ or Roberts’ garage at Hunters Oak. • John Frantom Radios were only turned on for the news, weekend entertainment and big events like the coronation. On Saturdays most people had them charged up.

8. The day of the Coronation • I went down to Towella Villa and watched the Coronation with Miss Trenance on her TV • - it was just the two of us. • We had lunch - I spent the whole day with her. • I remember the tinned peaches and • tinned cream which was a luxury • because rationing was still on. • Monica Frantom

9. The day of the Coronation I was shoeing a horse called “Miss Finny “ for the Barretts to go racing at Newton Abbott the next day. Francis Barrett and I stopped as we were called in to watch the Coronation on the Barretts’ TV. After that we shoed another 4 horses that we took to the races the next day. • John Frantom

10. A memorable lesson • I was at Delaware school in a cookery lesson. • The teacher came in and told everyone to • “shush” and then announced • “the King is dead” • All the girls were shocked. • I remember the date (6th Feb 1952) • cos it was Nigel Hunn’s birthday • but I can't remember what I was cooking! • Audrey Stidwell

11. National Service • Dave Stidwell I was doing National Service in the Army in the Woolwich Garrison. We had to march through London across Tower Bridge and then to Westminster Abbey. Our role was to test the seating which was made with scaffolds and boards. There were 50/60 troops who all had to make sure the seating was safe.

12. National Service 2 to 3 days later (on the day of the actual Coronation) the Garrison was in Germany. We were offered to watch it on TV but I (and a few others!) went off to the river. When we got back, we asked what the coverage was like. The others, who had watched, said they couldn't see anything for the picture interference! • Dave Stidwell

13. She flew back in what? • Yes - I was around in 1952, aged 7 but I don’t remember much about the day the King died, and Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne. • I remember she was in Kenya at the time, • staying at a place called Tree Tops (was it a tree house?) and I think she flew back to the UK on a Super Constellation 4- engine, piston engine airliner, but that was about it. • Robin Woods

14. Our very own fly-past • The Coronation was much more exciting • because I was given a model of the • Coronation Coach complete with 8 horses • in Dinky Toy scale, and, for about 2 weeks beforehand, the RAF and the Fleet Air Arm practiced their fly-past right over our school! • The teachers knew that they couldn’t • compete with this marvellous spectacle, and • they would release us into the playground • when the first aircraft was heard. • Robin Woods

15. Those wonderful flying machines • There were, I think, between 100 and 200 aircraft involved, including many of the types which had seen service in World War II, including: • Spitfires and Hurricanes and all sorts of bombers and other aircraft built by all the old British manufacturers including: • Avro, DeHaviland, Vickers, Airspeed, Percival, Handly-Page and others, together with a number of American built types. • Robin Woods

16. Plane spotting • For some of us, of course, the highlight was • the new jet fighters: • the Gloster Meteor and the DeHaviland Vampire • The expert plane spotters among us could even distinguish the Navy’s variant, the Sea Venom from the RAF Vampire. • Were the V bombers, Vulcan Victor and Valliant around at that time, or not? Oh dear, I can’t remember, but it was a long time ago! • Robin Woods

17. Boring, boring, boring... • My Dad worked for the Rank Organisation, who had some offices overlooking part of the route of the Coronation procession, and so we travelled into London on the morning of the big day. • Father had arranged for us to watch • the procession from an upstairs window. • My two brothers couldn’t come because • they were too young!! We took up our position, • and then we waited, and waited.... • Robin Woods

18. Yawn,Yawn,Yawn... • ....and waited. My goodness, it was boring! • We watched as the servicemen marched into position to line the route about two yards apart, although I don’t think anyone was particularly concerned about a terrorist attack. • We watched as the pavements of the street • below filled up with spectators, 8 or 10 deep • in places, but we would get a better view • Robin Woods

19. Will he drop the crown? • There was a black-and-white TV with a 12 inch screen in the corner of the room, on which the grown-ups watched the Coronation Service, • but I didn’t find it very exciting. • When the Archbishop lifted the crown high • above the Queen’s head, I remember hoping • that he wouldn’t drop it, and wondering if • it would knock out the Queen, if he did! • Robin Woods

20. The Procession • Then the Service ended and the Queen and the Duke left for the procession, and we waited and waited for it to reach our vantage point. • Being the smallest, I was pushed to the front, • and told not to fall out of the window! When • the procession came past it was, of course, magnificent, with the Queen and Duke smiling and waving from the carriage, the Household Cavalry in attendance, hundreds of servicemen marching, bands playing, etc, etc… • Robin Woods

21. Excitement over • When it had all gone, we went home. • I can’t remember whether or not • we saw the fly-past. • We might have been on an underground • train at the time, but it didn’t matter • because, for the last two weeks, we had • been treated to our own regular • fly-past at school. • Robin Woods

22. The Queen’s Accession • In Feb 1952 I was working in • County Hall (London) when a taxi driver came • and told the “messengers” to tell us that • King George VI had died. • The messengers went all round the • departments in County Hall letting • everyone know what had happened. • Win Foweraker

23. The Queen’s Accession • King George’s untimely death meant that • Princess Elizabeth acceeded to the throne. • At the time she was out in Kenya with her • new husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. • They returned very quickly and arrived • dressed in funeral clothes. • Win Foweraker

24. We were married in March 1953, and, in that June, the Queen was crowned in Westminster Abbey • Win and Frank Foweraker

25. Even though we lived in London, on the Isle of Dogs, we only listened to the coronation on the wireless and saw all the photographs later in the newspapers. • Win Foweraker I have a few souvenirs

26. Royal River Pageant • Six weeks after the coronation, the Queen • and Duke of Edinburgh went on a Royal River Pageant from Greenwich to Westminster. • Frank, my husband, was a crane driver • in the docks and he took me to where his • crane was. We climbed to the cab and had • a unique bird’s-eye view of • this procession up the river. • Win Foweraker

28. The Coronation on the box • I was about 5 years old. • I was living at Trehill Cross, and I remember • going with my mother to Pendeen - a house at Boetheric, owned by Frances and Lewis Reep (where Brian and Christine Jones now live) • - to watch the coronation on television. • We had no TV at home. • Hilary Bennet

29. The Coronation on the box • I have a vague idea of a roomful of people • trying to get a view of the event • on a tiny black and white set, • about the size of a shoebox. • As I was quite short-sighted • (undiagnosed at that time) • it was all a bit of a blur (literally)! • Hilary Bennet

30. The Coronation party • There was a village party in the football field • The children were all given a mug • - I can't find mine now!! • However, I do have a glass plate • commemorating the Diamond Jubilee • of Queen Victoria (1897). • And NO!!! • - I wasn't there to collect it in person! • Hilary Bennet

31. Why was Ollie chosen? • I was living on the outskirts of London. • Ollie, a pupil from my school in Chigwell, • Essex, was chosen to go to sit in the • specially constructed rows of seats near • to Westminster Abbey. I supposed that • every school was able to send somebody • but I don’t remember to be certain. • We were all very envious of him, and he • certainly appeared to have enjoyed the day. • Judy Foweraker

32. The Coronation on TV • Perhaps it was a public holiday; we had a • day off from school, and I was very • lucky to be invited, together with other • children from the road where I lived, to watch • the ceremony on a neighbour’s television! • We all squeezed into their front room. The • very small screen looked out from a wooden cupboard. But it was high enough for us all to • be able to see the black and white picture. • Judy Foweraker

33. The Coronation on TV • It was very exciting to see • all the pageantry and the • Queen looking magnificent, especially when she was wearing the crown! • I also remember the wonderful music, and afterwards being given some orange juice with cake or biscuits. • Judy Foweraker

34. The Coronation • Dad had found a really nice • picture of Princess Elizabeth and • put it into a large frame, which he • put in our front room window • on the day - people seemed to • do that kind of thing back then. • There were several street parties later in the afternoon and evening. • Judy Foweraker

35. Watching on the “Big Screen” • About a week or two (it may have been • longer) after the actual day, the local • cinema showed a coloured version of the ceremony, which I went to see • with Mum and Dad. • The picture was very clear and it was all • quite beautiful but .... • Judy Foweraker

36. Watching on the “Big Screen” • .... but I think I was more thrilled to see • the queen actually crowned • (or ‘coronated’ as I called it) • at the time it happened • – even though it was on that very grainy, • black and white small screen. • A big ‘thank you’ to • my friend Maxine’s Mum and Dad! • Judy Foweraker

37. Some of Norma Chapman’s souvenirs Hologram images of the Queen and Duke

38. Coronation celebrations • I was a young teenager living at Landulph. • The Parish held a Celebration Tea • in Landulph Primary School. • Everyone enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea • and the youngsters and teenagers etc • gathered in the field opposite the • Methodist Chapel for an afternoon • of fun, Pony Rides, See Saws, • Greasy Pole, and the rest... • Betty Behennah

39. Coronation celebrations • A few of my friends and I were given • baskets of food from the Tea Party • to give to those elderly parishioners • unable to walk to the Party. • What a lovely, exciting and happy time • we all had at Landulph, where I grew up • and still love going back to join in • festivities with old friends. • Betty Behennah

40. The young Queen meets Brown Owl and Brownie Doreen Behennah who is standing nearest to the camera

41. Watching the Coronation on the TV • I lived in London at the time, but did not go • up to town to watch the procession, • but watched the coronation • on my grandparents’ television. • Certain parts remain in my memory – the procession up the aisle and the • actual anointing and crowning. • Di Axtell

42. Watching the Coronation on the TV • There were several of us in a small room • watching a very small black and white TV. • The atmosphere in the room was very jolly • and obviously everyone was quite • excited by the event. • For me it was a “first” royal coronation, • but the “second “ for my mother, • and the “third” for my father and grandparents. • Di Axtell

43. Our street party • The second part of the celebrations was the street party. Organised by the ladies, including my mother, there was no red tape about closing the road as there were very few cars to worry about. • Trestle tables were obtained from somewhere and everyone brought tablecloths. • Food was made including sandwiches, with tea, soft drinks and a few beers for the men! • Di Axtell

44. Our street party • Us children were in fancy dress • – me the “Order of the Bath” • We all wore red, white and blue tiara-shaped • hats made of cardboard. • Red, white and blue cardboard cups, napkins • and straws were available for us to use. • I kept mine for about 40 years until mother • had a clear-out and threw the lot away! • Di Axtell

45. My second street party • I was also lucky enough to go to another • street party, held on the next day, • on my mother’s cousin’s street. • There was no fancy dress this time • but food and entertainment • – notably a “Punch & Judy” show. • Di Axtell

46. More of Norma Chapman’s souvenirs

47. Death of King George VI.... • My parents heard the news of King George VI from the announcement transmitted on the wireless on the morning of 6th February 1952. • Although the King had been ill, everyone • was very shocked by his sudden death. • Mother and Father knelt on the kitchen • floor and said a prayer for him. • Christine Cross

48. Death of King George VI.... • They then stood and sang the • National Anthem and, in spite of it being • mid morning, they poured a glass of port • and toasted the new Queen Elizabeth • and said “God Bless Her” • I was a 10 year old child but I remember • feeling very sad and being extremely • moved watching my parents’ obvious • emotion and spontaneous grief. • Christine Cross

49. Death of King George VI.... • Every home had drawn curtains as a mark of respect until after the King’s burial on the 15th February. • Elizabeth was immediately declared Queen and, when she arrived back from Kenya, she took the Royal Oath which sealed her accession to the throne. • Christine Cross

50. Death of King George VI.... • The newspapers were full of photographs of the royal family who were all • dressed in black, looking visibly shaken and in mourning. • I remember thinking how tiny • our new Queen looked and • I felt she was so very brave. • Christine Cross