Coronation memories

I watched the coverage of the Queen's Coronation on TV last night and this morning's live ceremony at Westminster Abbey which has inspired me to write a little about my own memories of this wonderful event.

Photo taken from my TV this morning

(By courtesy of BBC TV Events)

As a six year old I remember watching the Coronation on the television, black and white then, and bought especially for the occasion by my parents who probably really couldn't afford it but felt that this was too good an opportunity to miss and an occasion that they would never have seen before.

(courtesy of Google Images)

If my memory serves me right this is very similar to our TV

I'd never seen a television set before and remember the excitement of it being switched on for the very first time and waiting for the Queen's procession to begin.  Her golden coach was escorted by what seemed like thousands of soldiers on horses in fine uniforms and now know this was the Household Cavalry. Millions of people were waving Union Flags. Indoors we had some bunting hanging along the picture rails and I remember Mum bringing in a tray with a pot of tea and cake. We all gathered around the TV, my sister Barbara who was only three at the time, Mum, Dad and me. 

It seems that TVs bought at the time were very expensive and by today's standards would be in the region of £1000. What with post war rationing and everyday budgeting that most  families endured at that time, this would have been no mean feat and probably bought on hire purchase to be paid over two or three years.

This programme is something I've bought in later years

and shows the route the procession took

We didn't have a street party but I do recall going to a party in a local hall, where all of us children sat on very long trestle tables covered in paper tablecloths and what seemed to be filled with lots of sandwiches, cake, jelly and blancmange as well as lashings of ginger beer and lemonade. Lots of Union Flags and bunting.

All the children in our primary school were given a Coronation mug as well as this book on Royalty in Essex both of which thankfully have remained in my possession

Inside of which is this lovely poem by the then Poet Laureate

John Masefield

My parents, bless them had never been particularly patriotic but I have them to thank for my own patriotism and love of the Royalty over the past sixty years. I love all the pomp and circumstance that this country is rightly very proud of exhibiting and believe this began when gathered around the TV with my family experiencing the thrill of that June day in 1953.  

Do you have any Royal memories?

Jubilee Weekend

A warm welcome to my new follower Kirsty, thankyou for joining me.

Well the bunting's up and plans are afoot for this coming weekend to celebrate

the Queen's Diamond Jubilee

We're going to London to see the Pageant on the Thames, staying overnight in an hotel (which we booked last October well ahead of time) and very much looking forward to it. We'll spend the best part of Saturday walking around the best loved sites, taking in all the splendour that London creates at times like this and then have a quiet meal in the evening overlooking the Thames taking in all the atmosphere. Sunday morning up early so that we can get a good spot on the South Bank for the Pageant.

I have to say I am, and always have been an ardent Royalist and love all the pomp and circumstance involved in such occasions. Back home on Sunday evening and then a day to get ready for a family BBQ on the Tuesday where there will probably be around twelve of us.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend

Collecting and reflecting

Welcome to my new follower BeautifulDees 

and a big thankyou for all your lovely comments recently.

We have promised ourselves that during the summer months we are going to attack our loft hoping to dispose of the many items of household 'rubbish' that have been stored away and been forgotten in the depths of time. To my knowledge there is a large collection of our children's toys (they are now 38 and 36 years old) and clothes (why?).  Old vinyl singles, EPs and LPs (which will never be played again) as well as numerous table lamps (dated), suitcases (full of toot) and no end of boxes of stuff that we 'just couldn't throw away' including old dinner sets, saucepans, cassette players etc - you name it, we have stored it.  But no more - enough is enough and it's all going - either to the tip, the charity shop or a boot sale.

That being so, I recently came across a selection of Coronation mugs that I'd been collecting over the years and simply would never throw out. They were hidden away in a box in our garage of all places. Anyway with the Queen's forthcoming Diamond Jubilee celebrations I couldn't resist sharing them with you.

Firstly Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee mug - it does look a bit sorry for itself

but it is 115 years old after all. Victoria was crowned on 28 June 1838

I love the 'all round' depiction of Victoria's reign as both Queen and Empress

Unfortunately I don't have a mug of Edward Vll's Coronation - (yet!)

Next came the Coronation of  King George V and his Queen Mary of Teck

who were crowned on 22 June 1911

Then came the 'King that never was' Edward Vlll

whose Coronation should have been in May 1937,  but of course his abdication

 meant that he was never crowned and he subsequently married Wallis Simpson.

Edward's brother George Vl stepped in and was crowned on 12 May 1937

alongside his Queen - Elizabeth Bowes Lyon

Finally, last but not least our own Queen Elizabeth

who came to the throne 60 years ago and whose

 Coronation took place on 2nd June 1953

(This was my mug given to me as a VERY young child!!)

 

We are planning to go to London to see the Jubilee Flotilla on the Thames and then indulge in a few family barbecues over that weekend. What will you be doing to celebrate?