The coronation of a young Queen Elizabeth II was perhaps the largest event in the UK in 1953. The first coronation to be fully covered on TV. It captivated the nation with pomp and ceremony, similar to the recent coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla.
In Upchurch, a committee chaired by Cecil Bishop from Horsham Lane was formed to decide how the event should be celebrated in the village and how money should be raised.
Money raising events were soon underway in April, with a jumble sale and a house to house collection that raised £16. The committee also decided that all children under school age should receive a coronation souvenir and that a competition should take place to find the best decorated house and garden in the village. Mrs Porter from Crown Cottage at Ham Green won the Best Decorated House Competition, and Mrs Brunt from Oak Lane won the Best Decorated Garden Competition. This proved to be a very popular and well supported activity.
Upchurch Football Club planned to stage a coronation six a side football competition in May, but the KCFA refused permission. This setback soon passed as a coronation marathon was arranged for June 5th, and in preparation for this, the trophies were put on display in the post office. With competitions for men, women and juniors, it proved to be a great success and raised £30 for the coronation funds. The winners included Trevor Syfleet (men), Pat Atkinson (women), John Gilbert (boys) and Janice Lacy (girls). Carnival Queen Inys Hales presented the prizes. A hard working committee consisting of Mr Atkinson, Mr Bass, Mr Stewart, Mr Higgins and Mrs Bronger organised the event.
Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh in
their coronation portrait, 1953.
The following Saturday saw the opening of coronation activities in the Paddock by Upchurch vicar Reverend Clark which also proved successful, raising £120. Events included maypole dancing, a fancy dress parade and races. Red, white and blue balloons and bunting decorated the Infants School, where free teas were served to children and pensioners by Mrs Burton, Mrs Grigg and Mrs Colvin. In addition, the Rainham & District Co-operative Society presented a special silver Elizabethan coin to Upchurch children to celebrate the coronation. Coronation mugs were also presented as souvenirs to all families in the parish.
A special coronation cricket match took place between Upchurch and Rainham at Berengrove Park in Rainham the following Monday. Unfortunately, Upchurch lost the match, but a collection raised £3 on the ground. However, the most popular and most well attended activity took place at the Old Forge in Forge Lane, where Vic Mannering, representing the Upchurch branch of the Conservative Association, showed a blockbuster film every second week to raise money for the Coronation funds.
In October, at a special coronation committee funds meeting at the Infants School, secretary Ted Tress explained that £134 had been obtained from donations, £104 had already been spent on the celebrations, and £30 was in hand. This led to a public meeting being called on Thursday, November 12th, to decide how the excess money should be spent, and demonstrated that with sound organisation and fundraising efforts, the village coronation celebrations had proven to be highly successful, making 1953 a year to remember.
David Wood
About David
David was born and raised at Ham Green and still lives there today.
He writes from personal experience about Upchurch village life and the changes that have taken place over the years.
David's book, Memories of Upchurch, is a very readable and detailed historical study of the village and is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk price £12 + postage and packing.
