I was 9 a few days before the Queen's coronation. My uncle had bought my grandparents a television, it had a tiny screen inside a huge wooden cabinet. My grandma had invited friends and neighbours in to watch it her house was packed.She laid on a huge tea party with all of us huddled round that tiny screen.
My brother had been born a few days before and the people in our street bought him one of those pram rattles that stretched across the pram, big red white and blue plastic balls on a length of elastic. He was the street's Coronation baby.
I have never met any Royal person, but my dad said he had danced with the Duchess of Windsor during WW2. He was serving in the Merchant Navy and his ship had docked somewhere in the USA. There was a party being held for British servicemen and the Duke and Duchess were present and my dad said the Duchess did a waltz with all the servicemen there, changing partners every few minutes.At the time she was still a hate figure in this country but my dad said she was perfectly charming to him, mind he never told my mother what she had said to him!. Afterwards he would not have a bad word said about her. Which was something coming from my dad who was no fan of the royal family.
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Right Royal Memories - win signed copies of Lesley Pearse's new book Without a Trace and other goodies
(61 Posts)You'll have seen Lesley's guest blog post talking about her memories of Coronation Day - the setting for her latest book, Without a Trace
Now some of you have already recalled your memories of that day on the blog thread* - but we would love to hear more of them...and indeed memories of other big royal occasions too (from the Jubilee to Charles and Di's wedding etc etc)
Five runners up can each win a SIGNED copy of Without a Trace and one lucky winner will win a fantastic Penguin bundle - including Lesley's new novel, a couple of her previous novels, a cookery book and Penguin merchandise (e.g. Penguin notebook, Penguin mug, tote bag)
Lesley Pearse's novels have sold over three million copies in the UK alone. Her twelve most recent books, including Gypsy, Faith and Hope, have all been huge bestsellers. Lesley has three daughters and one grandson.
* if you have feel free to add again here for entry to the competition
Usual GN terms and conditions apply. The comp closes on Thurs 11 June and the winners will be notified by the following week.
I was just 3 when the Coronation took place and can remember the big long
tables that stretched in front of our door and down the Road,all the mums where running about making sandwiches for the party and big jugs of home made lemonade for everyone,we where all given a teaspoon as a memento,my poor mum was run ragged as she was pregnant with my sister at the time and my dad poorly in bed with the Mumps he had a black sticky stuff on his neck to help with the swelling and was so so miserable that he was confined from the beer tent after paying 6p a week for weeks before.
When I was 6 The Queen came to our Town and we where all marched in pairs to the main Road where we had to sit cross legged for what seemed like ages before a massive black car drove by slowly and the tiniest person waved to us we could just about see her as she looked so small behind the massive windows on that car,we all waved our flags and where given the afternoon off school much to our mums annoyance.
I'd forgotten about that glammanana. I think you are from Wirral and I was in that crowd too waiting to see the Queen. It was a lot of waiting for just a glimpse.
I remember standing for a very long time to see Princess Diana when she visited Exeter.It was a hot day and several people fainted and we're looked after by the St John's Ambulance team.
I went with a friend and we took our toddler's with us.
I spent the night before the Coronation on the pavement somewhere down Park Lane. I'm sure I didn't sleep. During the night, someone came along shouting that Everest had been climbed - that was Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing, the first to reach the summit. The next day it rained. My friend Ann fainted and was carried off to the the first-aid tent and brought back in time for the procession. As well as the golden coach and the smiling Queen, I remember the Queen of Tonga, bareheaded in the rain and smiling and waving, Winston Churchill, the Scottish soldiers lining the route in front of us, wearing kilts; I remember the white of their uniform - was it Blanco? running in the rain, and their good humour throughout. I was 16.
I was just 11yrs old at the Queen's Coronation and we didn't have TV in our home then but the neighbours did and I was invited in to watch theirs - in black and white of course! I remember the day being wet and our street party had to be held in the local Church Hall. A Fancy Dress parade was part of the event and my mother sent me as Mrs Mop complete with bucket, mop and turban!!
I was 9 at the Coronation and there was a Fancy Dress Parade for us too. I went as the Queen of Hearts in a long blue velvet dress made from an old curtain with silver paper hearts stuck all over and carrying a plate of home-made jam tarts. I had a cardboard crown also covered in silver paper hearts.
I also sang in the Borough-wide children's choir and we sang :
Jerusalem
I Vow to thee my country
Dashing Away with a Smoothing Iron
David of the White Rock
Early One Morning and two verses of the National Anthem.
Vivid memories!
I remember feeling very angry/jealous because the girl next door won the fancy dress. Not very original, she went as the Queen! Where as me and my sister went as hulla hulla girls. The hit record at the time was: She wears red feathers and a hulla hulla skirt. I thought we looked fabulous.
Prince William was born on the day that I heard that my Royal Marine husband was coming home after the Falklands War. I told my friend that I felt like doing something to celebrate so I went and had my ears pierced!!
My daughter must have been about 3 when Charles and Diana got married. We were staying with my mother at the time and she bought Sarah a Union Jack flag which she waved with great gusto for hours. By the time we saw Diana for the first time and the service started, Sarah was fast asleep and missed it all!
I remember having to make my children hats to wear to school decorated in red, white and blue for Andrew and Fergie's wedding. My daughter was no problem, but my son was adamant he wasn't wearing a hat, whatever the occasion.
When I was about five, in the fifties, we were given the afternoon off school because Princess Margaret was to be coming through our village. We were issued with small Union Jacks. Our mothers came to collect us and we walked to the main road. I remember wait and waiting. Then eventually a black car drove past. I thought it was a black cab, but it was Princess Margaret's car. We saw nothing of her and we were so disappointed!
I remember Saturday 6th September 1997. We were setting off to ride our tandem from home in Lancashire to Land’s End as the second leg of an End-to-End ride. We had ridden from John O’Groats to Scorton, had several days’ break and were now setting off for Land’s End.
We hadn’t been keeping up with the latest news and were astounded to find the roads deserted. Lancashire, Cheshire, Shropshire were all eerily silent, Then we realised: it was the day of Princess Diana’s funeral and everyone - except us - was following the service on television. So I will always remember this day, not just for the funeral of a much-loved royal lady but also for our chance to ride 115 miles in a single day on our tandem.
I remember walking along Portsdown Hill one day with my husband when we saw a motorcade coming towards us. As it passed a hand could be seen waving to us, it was the Queen and Prince Philip on their way to Portsmouth for some royal function. It was quite a surprise!
Yes I remember the Coronation. There must have been 15 people packed into our neighbour's house as they were the only ones who had a TV. The TV was huge, but the screen was tiny, the picture grey and the curtains were closed, so we could actually see what was going on. There were endless cups of tea. I remember the singing of Zadok the Priest, but it was a long time before I could put a name to the music.
On the day of the Coronation, Everest was conquered for the very first time, so even as a very small child I knew this was a very important day.
We had a party, which meant we sat at long tables outside for sandwiches, jelly and blancmange. We waved our Union Jacks, and every child had a toy model of the Coronation coach and horses and a book by Richard Dimbleby entitled Elizabeth Our Queen. I still have the book, but the coach and horses were long ago swapped for a more desirable toy.
I was one month old when the Queen had her Coronation. All children were given a bar of chocolate. My Mum admitted that she ate mine!
I remember when Prince Andrew married Sarah Fergusson.At the time my elderly Grandfather was a Chelsea pensioner, and the couple left from Chelsea Barracks where he was stationed to go away on honeymoon. A short time later Sarah attended the Royal Hospital's founder's day ceremony at which I was present.
My son was only very small when they got married and I remember him being given a specially commissioned commemorative sugar spoon from his playgroup.
The marriage didn't end too well, but the spoon survives !!
I remember Princess Margaret coming to our village. Well, passing through would be more accurate. There had been a big build up to the event and I was told that if I was a good girl, I would see a real princess. Imagine the anticipation! I imagined her to look like something from a story book. Surely she would have a beautiful long pretty dress? She would have fairy wings and maybe a magic wand. She would be wearing a crown and have a beautiful smile. But I was bitterly disappointed because the car shot past and all I saw was a lady in a brown coat and a velvet hat. She didnt even wave.
I cried and cried.
My first big disappointment.
My parents, my fiancé and I went to the house of a friend who was lucky enough to have a television! Black and white of course! I was hemming up the bottoms of my bridesmaids dresses as I was to marry that summer. My husband-to-be had machined all the long seems for me! My bridesmaids dresses were gold with red velvet sashes and I carried red roses, the girls had red and yellow flowers - all to reflect the Coronation theme!
A great year 1953 not only the Coronation - and my wedding - but - Edmund Hilary climbed Everest (the first man to do so) - England won the Ashes - and Gordon Richards won the Derby! Ancient history maybe, but I remember it well!
The Coronation was the first time any of us had seen a television. It was in a church hall. We all sat in rows, and the television was too small for most of us to see anything. I was four years old, and my sister was three months old. Got the mug somewhere, I think.
My memories go slightly further back to the funeral of King George V1.
I was aged 10 at the time, and I can clearly remember taking the tube to London and standing in a very long queue holding my father's hand, waiting to go into Westminster Abbey to see the king lying in state. It was very cold, quiet, and sombre in this endless queue, which eventually led to the coffin, guarded by the soldiers at arms. I remember being awestruck by the sight and chill of the huge and cavernous Abbey, the draped coffin, and the sound of shuffling feet.
My father served in the Royal Army Corps and was obviously very patriotic and thought highly of King George. He wanted to pay his last respects, and felt it was important for me to witness the occasion too.
It certainly made a lasting impression on me as I have never forgotten it.
I remember it well, it was my 8th birthday and one really looks forward to birthdays at that age.
We did not have a TV in those days but a friend of my mother's did so it was over to her house for the day, no time for birthday celebrations just a box of chocolates to take with me which I later realise ere probably just to keep me quiet.
It was a chilly, wet day, Dot, my mother's friend had two boys so my sister, myself and the two boys could either watch the TV with the adults or play out in the garden in the drizzly rain.
We were not very interested in watching TV all day long I remember playing in the garden but it was not much fun. No street parties either where Dot lived, a rather posh area, so I have always remembered what a miserable birthday that was.
For the coronation, my father bought my grandmother a television. All the neighbours came to watch what I thought was a very boring event.
My little brother, then aged 4, managed to acquire a small glass of sherry which he drank.
Later that evening the grown ups were disturbed at their celebrations by him complaining that I kept waking him up to check that he was still alive and hadn't died and gone to hell!
I attended a convent school and was convinced that drinking, wearing makeup and playing whist were mortal sins which lead to hell!
On being reassured that he was too young to have committed a mortal sin, ( under 7) he was allowed to sleep!
For Prince William's birth, I was on honeymoon in Greece - I was on a boat trip and one of the party announced it when he had bought a newspaper - everyone cheered
2nd June 1953 - Coronation Day - I was 7. I'd been involved for some time in advance of the long-awaited day as my dad was on the committee organising our local street party. On Sunday mornings I'd go with him as he called at houses in the area to collect the weekly subscriptions from people to pay for the party and I was pretty excited as the day grew closer.
I went to dancing classes and my mum had entered me for the talent competition which was to take place during the street party. I was to sing the coronation hit song of the time, "In a golden coach there's a heart of gold, riding through old London town". On Coronation Day it was cold, grey and raining, so I was told to change the words of the song from "The sun will shine down over old London town" to "The rain has come down over old London town". After some damp games, activites and three-legged races down the road which was closed off for the party, the talent competition started. It took place on a stage which was set up at one end of the road. I'm pretty certain there was live music and that someone played the piano to accompany my song. I was very suprised to learn I was the winner when the results were announced, and was presented with a Prudence Kitten glove puppet which I still have somewhere.
In the evening there was food and a fancy dress party for the children in the school hall. Jelly, pink blancmange and fairy cakes followed by a lot of running about afterwards. I was very fond of, and proud of, my Coronation ankle socks which I wore that day. They had gold crowns around the tops and they almost certainly came from Woolworth's.
I remember a massive street part for the queen's jubilee
Charles and Di - fairytale wedding - such a shame things weren't as they seemed and it was destined to fail.
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