Coronation Day 1953
A Great Celebration
By Janis Chambers
My mum made the Herald costume with material from my aunt who was in the rag trade. My dad made the trumpet from bits and pieces from his shed. There was a competition for best fancy dress and I won that. Can't remember what the prize was. After the photos in the street my dad took a photo of me in our back garden.
Janis in the back garden of 18, Shaftesbury Road
Donated by Janis Chambers
We didn’t have a television but my dad had hired a television from Radio Rentals shop, who I think was in Rose Hill, especially for the Coronation. Our two elderly next door neighbours were invited in to watch it and I and my sister sat on the floor as we only had four chairs.
Everybody was in Fancy Dress
Donated by Janis Chambers
Afterwards was the children’s street party. The mums all got together to make the food and things for the party and I can remember sitting at a long table in the street with all the children in our small part of Shaftesbury Road , everyone wearing a hat of some sorts and red white and blue, Union Jacks flying from windows. Mum said her two small flags with wooden canes were from the Coronation of the ‘Old King’ as she always said. I still have those and get them out for Royal occasions.
Shaftesbury Road Coronation Party 1953
Donated by Janis Chambers