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My name is Robin Wills, I now live in Thailand but at the time of the Queen's coronation in June 1953 I was just coming up to 12 years of age.
My mum and dad and my slightly older brother Keith all lived in a small terraced house in Exeter and we hadn't long had our small TV set.
When King George VI died in February 1952 I was at Junior school, shortly to leave for Secondary school. One afternoon the headmaster came in and we all stood at our desks. He spoke quietly to our teacher and then addressed us, telling us that the King had passed away. He told us what would happen (i.e. about the funeral and eventual coronation) and then a prayer was said for the dead King and for the new Queen in waiting.
Before the coronation day itself I recall filing up in the school hall at a special assembly to receive a coronation mug. If I remember rightly, these were given out at the end of a school day so as to increase the chances that they would arrive home safely! Another 'lead-up' to the big day was the hanging out of flags and streamers all the way up our road and indeed others. This task was carried out by the local men, my dad included, working from long ladders and it greatly impressed us children to see it.
On the morning of June 2nd we were up with the lark and the television went on early in order for us to view all the news leading up to the ceremony itself. One news event that was broadcast that day was that a British Everest expedition had managed to put two men (New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay) for the first time on the summit. Sir Edmund did not become a 'Sir' until some time later of course and as it later turned out the successful ascent had taken place some days earlier but the good news had been held back to coincide with Queen Elizabeth's coronation.
One or two neighbours who had no TV set were invited in to join us. Our seats were crowded around the small set as we watched the whole proceedings, punctuated by quick breaks whilst my mum hurried out to the kitchen to get yet more drinks and snacks.
When the event was finally over my mum and dad went to get dressed for a fancy-dress parade and competition that was being organized in our district (St Leonards).They were each in pyjamas but with bandages, fake blood etc. Additionally, my dad was sat in a wheelchair and carried a pair of crutches whilst my mum pushed the wheelchair. They sported a banner that read, "After the coronation! Was it all worth it?" This banner was in no way disloyal to the Queen or indeed to the coronation itself but was pointing up the fact that there were surging crowds everywhere in central London with commensurate injuries and need for first aid, as reported!
I believe that we children had a street party with long rows of trestle-tables and chairs, set up just outside our house but I can recall little of that event, with its jelly, ice-cream, cake and other goodies. I remember rather better the party down in the Robert's Road Schoolrooms in the evening. This was for whole families but we children spent our time mainly outside, chatting and playing whilst the adults inside were dancing, eating, talking and being entertained. We sometimes ventured inside to claim some of the food that was on offer.
One friend called Brian, I believe, and who lived right next to the schoolrooms had a young Chinese girl staying with his family. Why or how she came to be staying with his family I have no idea but I do know that I fell instantly in love with her exotic beauty. This may account for me ending up with a Thai wife, watching TV in the next room as I write!
The coronation was a day that probably sticks in the mind of all those who experienced it (rather like JFK's assasination) but possibly more so for all the children of my generation. So in my opinion, the answer to the question on my mum and dad's fancy-dress banner is, "yes ... it certainly was!"
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The above material is taken from a book that I am writing, but may be used on/by this website as a whole or in part without seeking further permission. The book is entitled, "Memories of an Exeter Childhood – 1941 to 1955"
Mr Robin Wills (http://www.robthaibook.com)
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