Coronation Day Exhibition 1953
Coronation 1953.
Next year, 2013, brings the 60th Anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. It will be celebrated throughout the Nation and the Commonwealth.
Prestwich and Whitefield Heritage Society are going to stage a Museum Exhibition about the 1953 Coronation as it happened locally.
The Coronation of 1953 was the event that marked the beginning of the Television Age. The Purchase Tax on TVs was reduced before the Coronation to stimulate sales. The local TV firm, Brindle and Kirby , reported “terrific demand” in Prestwich. People wanted to watch the Coronation and the Cup Final the following week.
Brindles also set up a 4 feet by 3 feet TV screen in Hope Park School so that hundreds of people could watch it.
There was considerable excitement locally as Coronation Day approached on June 2nd. The Rector of Prestwich, Canon Paton Williams, wrote in the Parish Magazine, “Never in the long and splendid story of our Motherland has an event been looked forward to with greater joy and thanksgiving than the Coronation of our gracious and beautiful young Queen Elizabeth II”.
The Rector also spoke of the dawn of a “new Elizabethan Age”.
On the day itself people crowded round small TV screens in living rooms. It rained that day and many street parties were postponed until the following Saturday. But some carried on; the Street party in Agecroft Road West moved into someone’s garage.
Most Communities gave children commemorative gifts to mark the Coronation. Prestwich and Whitefield Councils were no exception. Coronation cups and saucers, mugs, pens, pencils and handkerchiefs were among the items given to schoolchildren locally. Whitefield gave every baby born during Coronation Week a special silver 5 shilling piece.
It is these items the Heritage Society is looking for in the local community to put on show during the Exhibition. Memorabilia from the Coronation and photos of the local events are welcome. Any items provided will be safely returned at the end of the display.
A dish ; typical of Coronation memorabilia
If you can help with items for the Coronation Exhibition ring Peter on 766 3802 or go to the Society website , www.prestwichheritage.co.uk.
I used to live in Prestwich, lived on Milton Rd, played Center Falward for The Hays, I now live in either California or right now I am in Pensacola Florida, I return most years to Manchester vacation will aways love England but Love the Sun over here and the Fishing is Fantastic. Love ya all Rexoxoxox
I lived on Sunningdale Drive and remember going to a Coronation party at Heys Road Boys School and watching the Coronation on a neighbors TV. I live in Florida now but had a vacation in the UK this year and visited my old stomping ground, Prestwich Cricket Club. Was disappointed with the state of Bury New Road and also to see that the National School had been demolished but relocated however to the site of the infants school.
Hi Barry,
Good to hear from you.
Yes the piece about the Heys Road and Suningdale Drive Street Party appeared under the heading “Rain Drove them Indoors” in the Prestwich Guide on the Friday after the Coronation. The party was let into Heys Boys School.
There was also a picture of your party in the Guide which I will try to copy and send you. You might be on it or be able to identify folks.
Please feel free to expamnd on your memories of Coronation Day, we are looking fore reminiscences of the day for our exhibition about it.
Hi,
Just got your email and the photo was well received. Yes I am in it and it looks as though I am on the far right, about halfway up the right hand table. I believe that I am sitting next to Paul Chadwick who lived on Heys Road, also I can identify Rodney Pimblett at the left end of the middle table and on the left side of the middle table Colin Brooks and that erstwhile footballer Duncan Smith, they all lived on Heys Road. Paul, Rodney and I were in the same class as Jack Barrett at the National School.
Thanks again for the photo.
Barry
barry howare you after half a century plus yearsI still keep in touch with Frank Lupton BEEN Living in blackpool since 1959 sawAndy Whittaker in 1969 in Australia also saw Mr HARDING inClevelys in 1970s remember Sammy Woodward Miss Lightbown please e.mail a.sa.p cheers PAUL
To Paul Sanderson
I thought that I had responded but it must have got lost. Good to hear from you, my email is b_noden@hotmail.com. Pls drop me a line, I’m living in Florida, I was in Australia with Nat West Bank from 1985 to 1987, it’s a pity I did not know Andy Whittaker was there. I remember Sammy Woodward and Miss Lightbown. Kind regards, Barry