Coronation Day, 1953

For the Coronation in 1953, all the schoolkids had a sort of district party, and I went to the party at Whoberley Hall School (though I never attended that school). Everyone had sandwiches, jelly, and squash, all laid out on trestle tables in the school hall, and there were a few simple games. At the end, each kid was given a small gift to take away; I was given a "Richards of Sheffield" penknife, with panels depicting one side the Queen, the other I think had the Royal coat-of-arms. I had that penknife for quite a few years afterwards. (Just imagine the furore if kids were given a present like that nowadays!! ) Perhaps other members of the Forum have memories to add to that?

We had a children's' fancy dress street party in Coronation Road. I can remember the money being raised by weekly street raffles. The party was planned to be in the street, but due to the rain, the organisers (I think Mayjan's mum was one of them) had to quickly arrange for the hire of a room in a pub. The pub was in Brook Street, I can't recall the name of it; all I can remember was that we had to go upstairs. I was dressed as Elizabeth I, I wore a long dress, ruffle collar and a crown. I can't remember what Jan was dressed as but I'm sure she will add to this. I can't recollect if we had a present or not - perhaps Jan will. To me, the best thing about the day was that friends of my mum and dad's came from Birmingham and brought their television with them. It took ages to set it up as we didn't have an aerial. I remember dad hanging outside a bedroom window with a metal coat hanger and my sister and I shouting up to him every time we got a picture, needless to say by the time he heard us he had moved it again and the picture had gone. In the end our friends returned to Birmingham, took the aerial down from their roof and brought it back to Coventry. We got quite a good picture and we only had standing room in our house that day.

I think I was dressed as a Romany Gypsy Tricia I know my younger sister went as a penguin. Can't recall getting a present from the street party but did get a book from school which I still have, called Elizabeth our Queen and signed by the Lord Mayor. We didn't have a telly so all piled into a neighbour's house to watch the ceremony. My mum bought me a red white and blue taffeta dress a few weeks before the great day and I was not allowed to wear it until then and I kept going into her bedroom where it was kept and looking longingly at it.

Just found this photo, taken at the Coronation Day party held in Crecy Road, Cheylesmore. Anyone who recognises themselves, please shout up - and "Yes", I am in the photo!

Tony, my Dad lived in Cornelius Street. Due to my granddad (his dad) having a small win on the pools they were one of the few homes with a TV - so they had a crowded house that day! He was 10 at the time. One of the few things I know about his childhood. Went to St Michael's and was awarded a scholarship to KHVIII - they would never have been able to afford it otherwise - pools win or not. Think my granddad drank the rest of his winnings at The Cheylesmore.

I recall many a "Happy Hour" spent sitting in the car with my Mother and Sister outside The Cheylesmore whilst my Dad popped inside "for a quick half". I'll always remember the "sodium" light in the middle of the "lawn" at the back of The Cheylesmore, and also I think there were two in the car park - they gave off quite an eery bright white light. I mentioned in another thread that my mother used to send me over the road - at the age of about 7 - to the chippy (The Three Spires Fish Saloon - which is still there!!) to buy 3d worth of chips and some scratchings, then take them back to the car to eat them! Mmmm - I feel hungry!

Who else remembers receiving a spoon and fork like this to celebrate the Coronation? Were they given to all children, or was it a Coventry thing? I don't think I had started school at the time but I have photos of me and my sister at the Canley fancy dress competition.

Great pic - although I don't recall seeing a spoon and fork like these before. Where did your "fancy dress party" take place? - we moved from Cheylesmore to Canley the year after the coronation. I'm sure we would all love to see the photo's!!

We lived in a 'prefab' bungalow in Wendybugh Street. Don't know if that is spelt right! My sister would have gone to school in Canley, but I started school at Whitmore Park Infants after we moved up there soon after the coronation. I am still hunting for my photo album!

Just round the corner from the (relatively) new Charter Primary School, which replaced the now demolished Sir Henry Parkes Primary School in Prior Deram Walk - my first school

I have a sneaky suspicion my late father Philip Shaw may be in this picture - blonde lad standing in front of the middle man on the back row - two lads to the right of him (his left) could be his step-brother Peter Seers and his older brother Norman Shaw. Or Peter may even be in front of him. Only one still alive and have not seen him for donkeys years. I will try and get Norman's widow to have a look and see what she thinks. I have one photo of him from that time and it is the spit of him! So perhaps the kids didn't bother watching it on the telly after all and went to join in the fun with their mates?

It's Wendiburgh Street, Shoestring, as my nan lived there in one of the bungalows, my uncle and aunty lived further across in Canley in the prefabs which I fell down the steps at the side of the prefabs playing ended up with a big lump on my head which they put butter on to take the swelling down

Tony, thanks for sending me the picture. After consulting my Aunty Margaret, we are in agreement that Philip Shaw, Norman Shaw & Peter Seers - all brothers from 61 Cornelius Street - are definitely in this photograph. Phil & Norman were the children of Cyril & Muriel Shaw. Peter had already been born to Muriel Seers before she married Cyril. Only Peter survives - Aunty Margaret has emailed him the picture. My Dad Phil is definitely the blonde boy standing in front of the middle older lad / young man on the back row. Norman is two along on his left / our right. Peter is standing in front of my Dad - his right / our left.

That is brilliant news Simon!! Thank you so much for letting me know, I'm really pleased for you!

60 years ago, this was the Poole Road, Radford, Coronation party held at the Co-op Hall on the corner of Poole Road and Three Spires Avenue. Does any one else have any pictures taken at their party held 60 years ago?