Easter
sees how some residents were involved in the ceremony while others gathered around new fangled televisions to watch the event.
The coronation was also one of the defining moments for television, providing a huge boost to the infant medium and leading to a surge in popularity.
It was the first time that cameras had been allowed into Westminster Abbey, and then only at the insistence of the Queen, who wanted all her subjects to be able to witness the event.
Indeed, such was the desire of people to watch the proceedings that some built their own sets especially for the occasion - including late Ashtead resident John Vicars.
"I can remember everyone crowding into our lounge to watch the funeral as we had one of the few televisions in our road" Jenny Wallace. "Everyone came round to our house. Dad bought a television especially. We were the first in our row to have one" Pam Driver. |
King George VI, 1951 crown, obverse
The story goes back to the coronation of the Queen's father, King George VI, in 1937. Normally the ceremony would have been organised by the Duke of Norfolk, but as he was just a young man at the time, he appointed Sir Gerald Wollaston, Garter King of Arms at the Royal College of Arms, to act for him. This was an enormous undertaking, and was a full year in the planning. And so it was only natural that when it came to our current Queen's coronation in 1953 Sir Gerald, by then in his eighties, would be called on again to advise. The ceremony was a huge affair, with thousands of guests from all over the world, and everything had to be perfectly co-ordinated and executed. Several rehearsals were held, with the Duchess of Norfolk standing in for the Princess, and a team of stewards was appointed to assist with directing people to the correct place. This latter group was known as the Gold Staff Officers on account of the golden batons they carried, and included Sir Gerald's sons, one of whom was Ashtead resident Henry Wollaston. On the day itself, those involved in the arrangements had to be present by 6.00am, sandwiches at the ready to see them through till mid-afternoon. The weather was atrocious (it was after all a very British occasion), but that did not stop some of the dignitaries travelling in open carriages - most famously the Queen of Tonga, who was very colourfully dressed in national costume. There was huge anticipation and excitement dignitaries travelling in open carriages - most famously the Queen of Tonga, who was very colourfully dressed in national costume. There was huge anticipation and excitement throughout the country as people awaited the arrival of the Princess Elizabeth, and the magnificent ceremony of the coronation. Cinemas, living rooms, streets were packed as she was crowned Queen. And there followed a magnificent State Procession back to Buckingham Palace.
After the coronation, all the scaffolding and decorations were taken down, and the beautiful cloth drapes offered for sale. Henry decided to purchase a length of the material to make an altar frontal and presented it to St Giles' - and in so doing provided us today with a tangible link back to the coronation 50 years ago.
Kenya, Uganda & Tanganyika First Day Cover
