Publications | Down Survey | 2002 Issue Contents

The Coronation in County Down
Linda McKenna

In June 2002 Down County Museum opened a small exhibition of items recently acquired by the museum from local donations, purchases and bequests. Chief among these was a selection of items relevant to the golden jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. This article looks at how the museum marked the jubilee and looked back over life in the past fifty years but also at how the coronation (which took place in June 1953, a year after the Queen's accession to the throne) was celebrated in this area.

The information on how local people and community groups marked coronation day and the days immediately afterwards has been taken from two local newspapers of the time, the Mourne Observer and the Down Recorder.

In Newcastle and surrounding areas, a wide variety of entertainment was provided by coronation day committees, local clubs and groups. On coronation day itself there was to be a historical pageant and parade through Newcastle starting at the Technical School and culminating in Donard Park. This pageant featured local children and adults representing various historical characters, including St Patrick, Robin Hood, Queen Elizabeth I, Francis Drake and a Victorian gentleman on a penny farthing bicycle. At its termination local school children were presented with coronation gifts by the Chairman of Newcastle Urban Council, WS Corry. During the evening of coronation day an open air concert scheduled for Castle Park had to be moved indoors due to inclement weather but the ever hardy boy scouts still managed to camp out and light a coronation beacon on the summit of Slieve Donard, the highest such beacon in Ireland. Later on in the week, celebrations continued with children's sports competitions in Donard Demesne and a coronation ball sponsored by Newcastle Rugby Club and featuring the "Pioneer Ballroom Orchestra with Johnny Millsopp"! An interesting note from all the coronation balls taking place throughout the area, and presumably beyond, and indeed of many dances of the day, is that the ladies' admission was at least a shilling cheaper than the men's! Was this an example of old fashioned gallantry or just a recognition that women were generally paid less than men for all kinds of work? In Annalong, in addition to children's events there was an unusual twist to the "best decorated" house or street theme with a best decorated bicycle and tricycle event! There was also a ladies versus gents football match. Does anyone remember who won?

In Downpatrick coronation day began with the planting of coronation trees in the Cathedral grounds by Mrs Wallace of Myra Castle, near Strangford. A parade of bands, local school children and voluntary organisations then proceeded to the Cricket Club. During the evening a fancy dress parade marched to the Mall where a crowd gathered to hear officially broadcast speeches by the newly crowned Queen and Prime Minister. There was also time set aside during coronation day for less ceremonial events. Motor cycle competitions and tests were held on a field on the Belfast road. The coronation day ended with the lighting of the coronation beacon on Roughal hill. A packed day of events in Clough included sports competitions and displays from the children of Clough, Seaforde and Clare Primary Schools, the presentation of coronation mugs to under 16s and 70 year olds and the inevitable fancy dress parade. In Ballynahinch local children were entertained by what the Down Recorder referred to as "two of Belfast's leading troupe of artistes". Does anyone remember who they were?

The Rt Hon John Edmond Warnock, KC, DL, MP in his uniform for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953

1300 children from the Ardglass, Killough, Strangford, Bright and Ballee areas were transported by bus to the Bishopscourt air base to
watch films in the picture house there. They were also treated to refreshments, a bonfire and fireworks.

In Killyleagh, a concert in the castle grounds on the morning of coronation day featured 800 children singing. Killyleagh's fancy dress parade was accompanied by displays of country dancing. Generous prizes of £2 and £1 for the "best decorated" houses were also given out.

Much of the coronation day entertainment was the staple of many community festivals before and since, with egg and spoon and sack races, best behaved dog displays, bonny baby competitions and tug of war matches all featuring strongly.

Invitation to the Coronation in 1953, DCM 2002-95. Gift of the Pannell Family

Fancy dress competitions or pageants with a historical flavour were also popular, with no doubt, many a school teacher welcoming them as a lively way to increase knowledge of history among their school pupils! Interest in the coronation continued into the summer of 1953 with many local cinemas, including the Ritz in Newcastle advertising the coming of "A Queen is Crowned", the official film of the coronation "in technicolor". However the longest lasting entertainment themed legacy of the coronation was of course television. Many people in Northern Ireland purchased their first televisions specially to view the coronation ceremony. The presence of television in people's homes was to change people's leisure pursuits forever, although in 1953 this new medium was still very much an unknown quantity. Indeed the comments of the editor of the Down Recorder of the time sums this up:

In the Downpatrick district one still hears talk of the miracle of television, of how indeed it enabled people in their own homes, clubs and elsewhere to see more of the coronation in all its ordered magnificence than did most of the privileged spectators in the Abbey. At present it is impossible to measure the influence of this new medium on thought and conduct.

The museum's exhibition of coronation-related items included a fascinating variety of objects. In addition to a portrait of the Queen, kindly lent by the artist Lydia de Burgh, a selection of "ordinary" coronation souvenirs including medals, mugs, spoons and newspaper supplements, was also on display. The Pannell family also donated their official invitation to the coronation ceremony and a uniform worn at the coronation by the Rt Hon John Edmond Warnock, KC, DL, MP The jacket was worn as part of his 'undress' uniform. The more elaborate jacket from his full dress uniform, which he wore at the coronation, has unfortunately not been found. The photograph on display showed the original uniform as worn for the Coronation. The exhibition also showed items relating to the coronations of King Edward VII, George V and George VI; the 60th Jubilee celebration of Queen Victoria and Silver Jubilees of King George V and Queen Elizabeth II. Interestingly we also had on show a cup made for Edward VIII's coronation which did not take place owing to his abdication.

During the past year staff from the museum also brought out a selection of coronation items and items from the past fifty years to a variety of groups undertaking reminiscence and local history work. The key public event with a jubilee theme was a "Back to the SOs" event held on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th of June. This event featured dance drama performances by the Nikki Marks Academy of Performing Arts in Belfast. The dance drama presentations featured a humorous look at life in the "rock and roll" years which was enjoyed by large audiences. Accompanying this was a series of short talks on
fifties fashion with plenty of costume on display and talks on developments in consumer goods over the same period. Visiting children were entertained by "traditional" punch and judy shows. Unfortunately we had no space or time to accommodate a fancy dress pageant or a ladies versus gents football match!

Linda McKenna is Community Education Officer at Down County Museum

1.	Down Recorder 29 May 1953, 6 June 1953. Mourne Observer 29 May 1953, 5 June 1953. Copies of these newspapers are held on microfiche at the SEELB local history library, SEELB Library Headquarters, Windmill Hill, Ballynahinch.