Kentish Express Ashford & District
‘Privilege’ of having the closest view of Queen’s coronation
Sixty years ago, was a choirboy for the Queen’s coronation at Westminster Abbey. Here he recalls the day for
BREATHTAKING and out of this world. That is how John Fryer describes his experience as a choirboy at the Queen’s coronation 60 years ago on Sunday.
“It was wonderful to sing in Westminster Abbey,” he said. “Most choirboys are posers, and I was, too.
“We knew it was going to be great. We were all good at singing and were being coached by the top people to be our best at something we loved doing. “It was a wonderful privilege.” Mr Fryer, 73, from Smarden, had been a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral since the age of seven.
In 1953, a notice went up in the choir school about voice trials for senior choristers and corner boys, of which he was one.
Mr Fryer said: “We went to them not knowing what it was about, and a couple of weeks later my father called me in from playing football to say I had been picked to sing at the coronation with another corner boy, Nicholas Swain.”
Along with 29 other boys from cathedrals across the south, Mr Fryer spent a month up to the coronation on June 2 living at Addington Palace, Croydon, where they were tutored by Edred Wright, the choir master and musical director at King’s School, Canterbury.
There were four rehearsals at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster, followed by two for the whole 384-strong choir – of whom 183 were trebles like Mr Fryer – plus two full rehearsals in the abbey with the orchestra.
June 2, coronation day, dawned cold, wet and windy. The choir was up at 5am to be taken by coach to Westminster Abbey, where crowds cheered and waved flags at them as they waited to go in.
A special area for them had been built high up, giving them a bird’s-eye view of proceedings.
Mr Fryer’s first recollection was of the carpet: “It was a magnificent gold colour stretching all through the nave and choir.
“Then the crown jewels started arriving with the crown on a crimson cushion. We had a fantastic view.
“There was so much glitter from the jewels you almost needed sunglasses. It was incredible.”
The orchestra arrived at 9am followed by guests and dignitaries.
‘There was so much glitter from the jewels you almost needed sunglasses. It was incredible’
Mr Fryer said: “I remember we were opposite Queen Salote of Tonga who had a smile as wide as a melon slice.”
The arrival of the Queen at 11am was the cue for the choir’s first song, I Was Glad.
“She was a sight to behold with her six ladies in waiting,” said Mr Fryer.
During the service, the choir had to keep their eyes on the choirmaster rather than what was happening, but between songs they had a grandstand view.
Their last pieces were the Coronation Te Deum and the National Anthem.
Mr Fryer said: “We saw the the Queen’s procession go out, which was mindboggling.
“We were allowed out at 12.30pm to a buffet in the cloisters and for the lavatory.
“We had not had anything to eat or drink and had not been allowed to go to the toilet – 13-year-old boys have strong bladders.”
After returning to Addington Palace, the southern choirboys said their farewells and returned to their homes.
Mr Fryer spent another year in the Canterbury Cathedral choir before his voice broke.