CORONATION DAY.

In the run up to celebrations later this year to mark the 70 years reign of Queen Elizabeth. Bunny parish council clerk Mike Elliott has looked back to Tuesday June 2, 1953 which he recalls was a normal day for that period in anyone’s life in the UK – it was raining hard and fast. And Bunny was no exception.

Weatherwise, Coronation Day was an atrocious day in the middle of a lengthy spell of very wet weather. May that year had been a superb month with weeks of warm sunshine interspersed with occasional thundery downpours. Eight days before Coronation Day, on the Whit Monday holiday, the temperature soared to 31.7°C in parts of the country but there was a sudden and complete change in the weather the following day.

But more important than the rain on June 2 was the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and despite the poor weather, there were still many celebrations in the village.

“I remember the red, white and blue decorations that had appeared on most of the homes throughout the village, and particularly on the pub, the Rancliffe Arms, where as well as the paper decorations inside the windows there were coloured lights outside.”

A village celebration on the Bunny Park football ground just off Loughborough Road had to be called off—the ground was so wet access on to it was too difficult. Village resident Mr Bill Dorman, well known in the area for having steam engines, was called out to help pull off two traders vehicles because they could not make it on their own.

For my own part, my mother had spent more than a couple of hours to get my bike ready for the Best Decorated Bike competition in the village, but that too was spoilt by the rain, because as soon as I took my bike down to the village from where I lived on Albert Road, the crepe paper decorations were ruined and were so bedraggled I had to give up any hopes of getting a prize.

Television sets were a rarity in the early 1950’s but I was able to see a little of the day’s proceedings by being invited to the home of Mr and Mrs Ken and Ann Brailsford on Loughborough Road. They had a 10 inch TV --only in those days black and white -- and on which I was able to watch the Queen being crowned. The Brailsford’s invited a number of friends round to their home and I remember a crowded living room with the tiny TV set in the middle for as many people, as possible to see it. And Ken and Ann were not the only ones to invite friends round. Mrs Marjorie Brain, now at 96 years of age and one of the oldest residents in the village, recalls Minnie Young who lived with husband Harry in a now demolished cottage attached on the Bradmore end f the

Rancliffe Arms, also had a tv.

“It was thrilling to be able to see what was happening in London as it happened” says Marjorie, who has lived in her home on Victoria Road for much of her life and where she lives with her son. In the early days her parents Mr and Mrs Vamplew were immediate neighbours to her.

Another long standing resident John Henson, of Loughborough Road, was serving in the RAF at the time of the coronation, with this taking him away from the village for the big day.

I recall many of the youngsters of the neighbouring village at Bradmore about my age at the time of the coronation, was 14. including Graham Timmins, David Ward (both Albert Road), John Hibbitt (Church Street) John Pyle, Rosalie Wild ,(both Loughborough Road), Jill Marshall ( Victoria Road), Mavis Wilson, (Bradmore) David Cowlard, Colin Crooks (Church Street) Sheila Smith, John Mellor, Pat Sewell (all Loughborough Road) and Doris Charlesworth and Freddie Brown (Bradmore)

That day in June 1953 was an important day in our lives. Now we are looking forward to June this year when Her Majesty will be celebrating her 70th year as our Queen, and which no doubt we will be celebrating as we should. But hopefully the weather this year will be kinder than it was in 1953 as the Country enjoys a four day public holiday from June 2 to 5.

COMMUNITY CHOIR. Due to the uncertainty with Covid at present the Bunny Community Choir decided to delay their return from the Christmas break and will now – all being well - begin again on tomorrow, Thursday January 20 from 7.30pm-9pm in the Village Hall.

“If you would like to give it a try your first week will be free. Why not make a New Year Resolution to join our friendly group and learn to sing in harmony with us. You can sing even if you think you can’t , we promise!” says Jan Eastgate, the leader.

VILLAGE HALL. Bookings for hiring of Bunny Village Hall have started to come back following a big drop off during the hight f the pandemic, parish councillors have been told.

New bookings have been received with three weekly groups by Forma4fitness, five party bookings. But Groups absent due to Covid are Bunny Social, Lunch Bunch, and Gardeners. Further discussion to take place at the next meeting regarding continued refurbishment/ spend on the hall.

IMel will be taking us back to the night of January 31, 1916 when four bombs were dropped on Loughborough by a German Zeppelin airship heading for Liverpool. Sadly, ten people were killed in the raid and twelve were injured. The Zeppelin passed near Quorn and the next day the school log book records ‘What a day! Zeppelin Raid over the district last night and this morning the children are in a highly nervous condition and no wonder after the terrifying explosion which was so near to us’. This really is a talk not to be missed so hope to see you there – all welcome! Guests £4 and Members £2 A reminder that the ‘Quorn as a Tourist Destination’ display is still available to view in the Community Library during the library opening hours - why not pop in and take a look.

Also, we are preparing to contribute to the village Jubilee Year commemorations and would love to receive copies of any previous village jubilee celebration memorabilia that you may have stashed away. Memories, photos and artefacts are all welcome and will be copied and returned. If you can help simply email quornlhg@gmail. com or use the drop box in the library - thank you!

The group’s annual reports were approved at the AGM held on December 20 and the existing committee were elected and a new member Mr Jack was co-opted and welcomed. rather than endlessly talk. As an aside, the legal ownership of the Market Place, which has long been unclear, may, as a result of legal research associated with this project, soon become more certain.”

NOISE GROUP. Residents living in the vicinity of East Midlands Airport are being invited to join a local organisation representing people affected by noise local planes.

PAIN standing for “People Against Intrusive Noise” is currently refreshing its data and hopes to reconvene soon

Old and prospective members are asked to send their name and address to Fred Thompson in Kegworth at fred.thompson1@hotmail. co.uk or ring 07774 449446.

In a Facebook post it says PAIN has “good links” across local villages in the three counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

The post says that PAIN has had a representative on the Independent Consultative Committee for the Airport since October this year

Mr. Thompson has produced an analysis of sound airport noise monitoring date from equipment located in Kegworth Primary School grounds.

According to this date there were four incidents of aeroplane noise above 90 decibels in 2018, six incidents in 2019, 21 incidents in 2020 and 52 incidents in 2021.