Coronation 1953

Source: Baldock Voices

By Cathy T

The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth 1953

 

Well done, Baldock! was the unanimous verdict of everyone at the closing of the Baldock Coronation Festivities.

What a week it was! A tea party for 184 elderly people, presentation of souvenirs to over 1000 schoolchildren,street tea parties for the children, competitions, a motor-car treasure hunt, sports, a swimming gala, open-air dancing, in fact there was so much going on it was impossible to see everything.

One high spot of the week’s celebrations was the Soap Box Derby, organised in the market place.  This, of course was an event for the  younger male element of the town, but I believe that some fathers put on a good show too!

The major event of the week was the grand Carnival Procession through the streets of the town, with fancy dress competitions fot the children and adults, clowns, decorated cars and lorries, plenty of music from three bands and the whole impressive array led by the hounds of Puckeridge Hunt with the Master in hunting pink. The winning tableau was presented by St. John Ambulance Brigade, and there is no doubt that this was the finest spectacle that has been seen in a local procession for many years.

After the distribution of the prizes, there was open-air dancing in the car park, Old Time dancing in the Town Hall and celebrations throughout Baldock until finally the week’s revelries were brought to a close by a very impressive tatoo staged in the foreground of the Baldock factory.  singing was led by the Rector of Baldock, Canon L P Smith.  The chairman of the council expressed his thanks to all helpers and stated that it was fitting that the finale of the week’s celebrations should take place in the Kayser Bondor grounds, where Her Majesty the Queen , then Princess Elizabeth, had once been a visitor.  The proceedings came to a close with the singing of a hymn and at the sounding of the Last Post – the standards were dipped.

 

 

This page was added on 22/02/2012.

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