As we look forward to the Coronation of King Charles III on Saturday 6^th May we can reflect of the past coronations from the last century.

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The region celebrated the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in style despite the bad weather on the day in May 1953. A great procession through the streets of Denton was followed by an open-air service giving thanks to Her Majesty. The gala on Stockport Road playing fields included sports and dancing displays by children. Coronation gifts included special engraved badges, tins of chocolate and biscuits and Coronation three-penny pieces for the children and a packet of tea for everyone over the age of 65. Every house sporting a television became a little cinema, with people taking along their chairs, stools and cushions to TV parties.

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Of course there were plenty of street parties. The rain didn’t dampen the spirits of Ashton residents on Back Mount Street who were awarded the best decorated street in their ward. They took their children to the cinema and gave them a splendid tea, each child also received a Coronation cup, saucer and plate, and the older girls received souvenir pencils. Ashton Parish Church rang out a peel of bells, while at Crickets Lane a tree was planted by a selection of school children. A loudspeaker toured the town at lunchtime advertising the change of venue for the physical training display from the Market ground to the Armoury. A huge ice cream cake was cut at the Bollington Street party, held in St Peter’s school due to the rain.

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At the celebrations of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in May 1937 boy Scouts were asked to sell souvenir programmes with all the money raised being donated to the King George Jubilee Trust for poor children.

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A miniature version of the coronation took place at Flowery Field Council School. Their majesties were Frank Emery and Barbara Green who wore a gold crown, a white organdie frock with a long white train borne by ten attendants from the various classes.

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The people of Hyde celebrated throughout the day on the Market Square and into the night where public buildings were food-lit and festooned with flags and banners. School children were given a souvenir book. Many streets put out tables and chairs where they shared in afternoon tea. Hyde Town Hall held a Coronation Ball for up to 200 people, where The Manhattan Dance Orchestra played a programme of up-to-date music, followed by an appetising supper.

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A new residential street, Beech Avenue in Denton opened their windows directing the loud speaker of their wireless set on the street, with a strict rule they all tuned into the same station.

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Over 600 residents aged 65 and over were the guest of Dukinfield Corporation at a party and entertainment in the Jubilee Hall on Saturday. There were two sittings each partaking of ham, beef, pickles, brown and white bread, tea cakes and sweet cakes. Each male guest was treated to a packet of cigarettes and the ladies a box of chocolates.

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The coronation of King George V and Queen Mary was celebrated in hearty and enthusiastic fashion throughout the boroughs in 1911. This time the weather was more favourable which helped with the festivities. A brilliantly illuminated tramcar traversed the district.

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A civic procession led by the Mayor Councillor C.H. Waterhouse headed to the Parish Church for a service of thanksgiving. 20,000 children and teachers met on the market ground with each school allotted a place to assemble, carrying banners and flags it must have been a magnificent sight.  

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The Mayor of Stalybridge issued an appeal to mill owners to observe Coronation day as a special holiday, who all complied with the request. In Millbrook a bonfire committee provided a huge stack over 30 feet high and 50feet in circumference that was erected in Mr Ollerenshaw’s field. During the afternoon balloons of all shapes and sizes were let off into the air.

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Tameside Local Studies and Archives currently has a display of 20^th century Coronations including newspapers of the time show lots of photographs of bunting strewn street parties, bonfires and processions. These can be viewed at Tameside Local Studies & Archive Centre that is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thurursdays 10am - 5pm and Saturdays 10am - 1pm. The Archive Centre would love to see images of your celebrations of King Charles III’s Coronation, please send them to archives@tameside.gov.uk.

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