The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, 2nd June 1953

Meldreth Primary School Log Book, February to June 1953

Meldreth Primary School

Reg Carter with his lorry decorated for the Queen's Coronation at Maltings Farm (known as The Mill), High Street, Meldreth

Photo supplied by Ann Carter

Children in fancy dress on a float outside the British Queen, as part of the celebrations to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953

Photograph supplied by Joan Fallon

Float in Meldreth High Street celebrating the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953
Front, from left: Peter Oakman (King), Arlene Howell (Queen), Barbara Cox, Monica Farnham, Kathleen Winter. Drina Mead is seated on the floor.

Photograph supplied by Joan Fallon

Float in Meldreth High Street celebrating the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953
The girl in the sailor's outfit may be Anne Adams. Also pictured are Joan Jacklin, Joan Rayner and Roger Winter

Photograph supplied by Joan Fallon

Children in fancy dress on a float outside the British Queen, as part of the celebrations to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953

Photograph supplied by Joan Fallon

Children in fancy dress at the celebration of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953

Photograph supplied by Joan Fallon

A group of regulars outside the Railway Tavern Public House, High Street, Meldreth on Coronation Day, 2nd June, 1953
Those pictured include Charlie Calvert, Flora Catley, Jim Catley, Gordon Childs, Norman Clark, Ann Cooper, Betty Cooper, Derek Cooper, Lol Cooper, Peter Cooker, Albert Dash, Basil Dash, Neil Dash, John Howell, Dave Huggins, Herbert Jacklin, Alex Miekle, Dennis Oakman, Percy Parmentier, John Pateman, Ron Pepper, Reg Pluck, Fred Sims, Albrey Smith, Daisy Smith, Sid Smith, Bert Waldock, Doreen Waldock, Fred Waldock, William Waldock, Harry Waldock, Jack Wing and Roy Winter

Photograph supplied by Peter Oakman

Peter Cooper with his parents Lol and Becca outside The Railway Tavern on Coronation Day, 1953

Photograph courtesy of Peter Cooper

Celebrations in Meldreth

The coronation of Elizabeth II took place on 2nd June 1953. In Meldreth, the school was closed from 2nd to 5th June. A special service was held in school, with mugs being presented to the infants and spoons to the juniors.

There was a coronation parade through the village. All the children wore fancy dress and travelled on decorated lorries along the High Street to the school playing field.

Unfortunately, we don’t have a record of any other celebrations that may have taken place in the village but we do know that the regulars of The Railway Tavern in the High Street marked the occasion by having a group photograph taken outside the pub (see above).