Happy and glorious memories crown 60 momentous years

Jane’s recollections of the big day 60 years ago this Sunday are dominated by the food.

She said: “I was in Liverpool and we didn’t have a television. My next-door neighbour did and she invited the whole neighbourhood to go round and watch.

“The room was so crowded that no one could move. But one adult got up and boiled eggs for the children at lunch.

“I didn’t see much television at all after that for several years.”

But Carol, 70, of Outerwyke Road, does have some other lasting recollections of the historic occasion.

She has kept some souvenirs which sum up the moment which was viewed around the world.

The momentoes include a badge, a silk scarf, stickers and a large shiny crown.

The 1953 coronation in Westminster Abbey on June 2 captured the population’s imagination by being transmitted live on television.

The flickering black-and-white images on the small screens made the day a memorable occasion for millions of people.

Gill Peter, 68, of Sudley Gardens, Bognor Regis, was also among them. She said: “I remember watching the coronation on television when I was a little girl.

“It was in my neighbour’s house on a small black and white TV.

“It was very unusual to watch television and it was exciting. All the family sat around and watched it.

“I remember people talking about the coronation a lot in the build up.”

William Street resident Anna Protheroe, 88, said: “I thought the coronation was lovely and beautiful – all the carriages and horses and the Queen.

“I liked everything about it really when I watched it on TV in Guildford where I lived. It was only about 12 inches big and I went to a friend’s house to see it. It was very exciting.

“The whole street was in this particular house because nobody else had TV. It was packed I seem to remember.

“I’m quite a royalist. I’ve really grown up with the Queen after her father died. I think she has been a good Queen and very loyal.

“It would be a sad country if we didn’t have royalty.”

Anna went to see Princess Margaret’s wedding to Anthony Armstrong-Jones in 1960 when she lived in Wimbledon.

“I lined the streets for that after I got up early with a friend,” she said.

“Somebody who had been there all night fainted and we got pushed to the front. I went to quite a few occasions like that.”