The weather stayed fine for Coronation

I READ with interest T Trueman’s account of Coronation Day 1953 but fear that his memory is tainted by the fact that he was here in the North East where, I understand, there was a very heavy downpour of rain all day.

I was fortunate to be in London that day with my family from 6am when we took up a position opposite the entrance to Westminster Abbey. There was a brief early-morning shower but the rest of the day was fine although it was somewhat cold for that time of year.

Whilst waiting for the Queen to arrive the crowd got very excited when the newspaper headlines proclaimed that the British Expedition had conquered Everest for the first time albeit that the two top climbers were a Nepalese and a New Zealander. I believe the news had been delayed to add more joy to the day.

Having seen the Queen arrive we hastened to an aunt’s house to watch the ceremony then back to Buckingham Palace to watch the procession where I climbed a gate on the south side to get a better view.

Unfortunately I was captured by the film crew of ‘A Queen is Crowned’, one of the two official films.

It was subsequently shown in schools and there was a resounding cheer when I was spotted by my schoolmates.

With regard to dear old Queen Salote of Tonga, she did not get wet by riding in an open carriage but she would certainly have felt the cold.

The week did not all go well for the Queen. She had just Knighted Gordon Richards, the top jockey of the time. He had never won the Derby but that week he won it, beating the Queen’s own horse into second place.

BRIAN TAYLOR, North Shields