Where were you at the time? Specially for the over-65s

[alan refail]

Sunday is the 60th anniversary of the coronation. If you are of a certain age do you remember the day? I have never forgotten the village party in the "Rec" (which at the time I thought was the "wreck"). It was the Recreation Hall built by the people at the "big house" for their staff to meet and play darts and snooker etc. They were the Silcocks of Silcocks animal feeds, later BOCM Silcock (the present-day BOCM Pauls). The "Rec" still exists, though its windows have disappeared. http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1157004

The refreshments were provided by local mums - sandwiches, jelly and blancmange and cakes. There was also the rare treat of a television set, previously only available those privileged kids like me who had access to the maids' parlour at the big house (my grandfather was the family's chauffeur).

This is the only picture I have of the event - me presided over by a local worthy lady.

IMG (411x640).jpg (157.37 KiB) Viewed 4893 times

[JohnN]

I was in the RAF at Horsham St Faith, in Norfolk, and I remember picking up a morning paper at the entrance to the mess and seeing the huge headline "All this - and Everest too!"

[alan refail]

everest (539x640).jpg (341.38 KiB) Viewed 4886 times

Exactly the same headline I remember seeing, John.

[Shallot Man]

Doing National Service in the Canal Zone.

[snooky]

I was seven years old and watched on a neighbours television until I became bored and went out to play football!! Much more interesting!!

[Diane]

I was seven too...and I remember we had to assemble in the school playing field (in Tilehurst) - all in a straight line and each child had a placard to hold up, with a big letter on it. I assume it must have said "God save the Queen" or similar. All I know was that I got so bored that I passed the time trying to see how long I could stand on one leg before falling over

[Monika]

For the occasion of the coronation the BBC European Service had a quiz on English history for their East German listeners which I, as a a rather naive 15-year old, completed and sent to a cover address in Berlin. The letter was found by the STASI, all our family's correspondence and movements tracked for two years, I was arrested and questioned, my father imprisoned ..... it's a long story. Suffice it to say that three years later, we all managed to leave East Germany and I ended up in England.
A few years ago I requested copies of my STASI files (fascinating stuff) which will become part of the family chronicles.
And it all started with the coronation!

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Monika, what a fascinating story, but also what an awful thing for you all to have to go through.

One good thing that came out of it though, we are now lucky enough to have such a lovely person on the forum.

[Geoff]

What a story Monika, glad it had a happy ending, I assume 'all' means your Father got out too.
I have a dim recollection of being a 6 year old watching it on a tiny screen on a neighbours TV that was bizarrely in a bedroom, I wonder if it was something to do with the early signal quality.
I still have two quite tricky jigsaw puzzles of the ceremony, sadly with with a few pieces missing. Not bad for an anti-monarchist, can't say pro-republic because I can't see a suitable alternative head of state anywhere.

[Primrose]

Monica, that is an awesome story and makes us realise that despite some of us being children of the war, at least our families didn't have the secret police to deal with as well.
Our next door neighbour bought a TV for the coronation so we all crowded In to watch. But it proved a double edged sword because my father declared that to have one would be too much of a distraction for my brother and I doing our homework, so we spent our entire teenage years without one. But somewhere in a drawer I have a "coronation medal" that all of us were given at school to commemorate the occasion.

[Bren]

I was working that day a clippie on the buses.

Monica glad you all got home to England safely.

Bren

[Monika]

Thanks for all your comments on my coronation experience and, yes, Geoff, we ALL escaped. The quiz title was "Elizabeth I to Elizabeth II" and it had questions like 'How many queens and kings were crowned between the two queens?' and 'Where does the queen live when in London?' As a tie breaker one had to make suggestions for the improvement of relations between the two countries. I wrote in my letter (dated 16. April 1953 which, of course, never reached its destination and I now have in the STASI files):

"It is important to set aside misunderstandings and prejudices caused by the Second World War. I would suggest to the BBC to start a correspondence exchange. Addresses could be read out on the radio and pen friendship encouraged between young people. Any such personal and friendly exchange would greatly enhance the friendship between the countries. "

Well, I suppose things have certainly moved on since then. Just think of international internet access!

[alan refail]

A brilliant entry, Monika, and deserved better treatment for you.

[Geoff]

Taking of school, I remembered the Coronation mugs.

Coronation Class_R.jpg (154.85 KiB) Viewed 4745 times

[Monika]

What a lovely photo. Are you on it, Geoff, and if so, do tell us which you are!