A Sad Day at School and a Royal Coronation
Wednesday 6th February 1952

‘Hyde Park Corner’

On this Day now over 60 years ago a very important coded message was sent to Buckingham Palace. The message was ‘Hyde Park Corner’. This code-word, to be used in event of King George’s death, was enacted and Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill was informed at once.

My brother Charles and I were both at St. John’s School Redhill. It was just before lunchtime when Mr. Bennett walked into the classroom and spoke to our teacher Mr. Ross. After a few seconds Mr. Bennett turned and addressed us. “Now children, I have some very sad news: the King died this morning. I want you all to go home straight away and on your way home you must not play or be noisy because this is a very sad day.” This we did.

I walked slowly home with the others, not quite sure what was going to happen, or whether to ask questions, or just stay silent. We were in small groups and a few adults as well were chatting quietly. Always the one with an inquiring mind I asked, “What happens now, who will be the next king”? Somebody replied, “We will have a queen.” I had not thought of that; to me it did not sound as good as having a king, but it did make me feel a little better. We arrived home, sat down and chatted to Mother then spent the rest of the day indoors.

On Thursday 7th February every newspaper carried stories about the death of King George VI. There was also a lot of talk about a proclamation and for us locally this was to happen on Saturday 9th February in Reigate. Saturday soon came round and I set off on my cycle to Reigate – it was not far away, about two miles from our house in Wimbourne Avenue. I arrived at about 11:30 and outside the Council offices there was already a big crowd of people. At noon the Mayor, Mr. Arthur H.C. Salisbury, started to read the proclamation.

The Proclamation

“Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God to call to His mercy our late sovereign lord King George the Sixth of blessed and glorious memory by whose decease the Crown is solely and rightfully come to the High and Mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary: We therefore the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of this Realm being here assisted with these his late Majesty’s Privy Council with representatives of other members of the Commonwealth with other Principal Gentlemen of quality with the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Citizens of London do now hereby with one Voice and Consent of Tongue and Heart publish and proclaim that the High and Mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary is now by the death of our late sovereign of happy memory become Queen Elizabeth the Second by the grace of God, Queen of this realm and of her other realms and territories, head of the commonwealth, Defender of the faith to whom her lieges do acknowledge all Faith and constant Obedience with hearty and humble Affection beseeching God by whom Kings and Queens do reign, to bless the Royal Princess Elizabeth the second with long and happy years to reign over us, God save the Queen”.

I cycled home and again, I was soon asking my mother all sorts of questions. In my own way I believed I had witnessed a part of history. It was one of those days in life that I knew I would always remember. There would be many others later in life.

A Royal Coronation
2nd June 1953  

Things I do remember: we got wet and cold. But it made no difference; we were both enjoying ourselves, although we were also hungry at times. It did not matter. We were there, we made it, and we witnessed it in all its glory. There was warmth amongst the masses of people; there was kindness, love and generosity with plenty of goodwill. It was Tuesday 2nd June 1953 and nothing on such a large scale had been seen on the streets of London before. I was 12years old and I was with my twin brother Charles.

It was just the day before, at about lunchtime on Monday, the 1st June when my brother and I decided to set off for London to see the Coronation Parade. We told no one, not even our parents. All we had between us was our train fare and a few shillings. Redhill station was fairly busy and it was mid afternoon when we set off.

During the previous days we had seen the newspapers and listened to friends talking about this great day. There were to be street parties and celebrations all over the world, and in the far reaches of the British Empire. My father had decided we would not attend the party in our street. There had been collections up and down the avenue during the past weeks and my father had decided not to contribute. So as with most things we were going to be left out.

We boarded the train at about 3pm on Monday 1st June. It was a 45 minute ride into London Victoria. We were not sure which way to go; brother Charles guessed it would be best to turn right and walk along Victoria Street. The streets were packed with people, some on their way home from work and others on their way to see this great event.

Suddenly there it was, Westminster Abbey. As I remember there was boarding around the approach road and raked seating on the side we were walking. We walked slowly up Whitehall and asked a few people the way. “Please, where is the best place to stand?” “Try the Mall” was the answer. The crowds were by now all moving in the same direction and Trafalgar Square looked packed. We turned left, then under Admiralty Arch and into the Mall. It was a long straight road leading directly to Buckingham Palace. To our left was a road that led to Horse Guards Parade. We crossed over this and continued about another 200 yards. We decided this was as good a place as any. St. James’s Park was behind us; in the distance we could just see Buckingham Palace. We were going to get a great view; we were in the front row.

We had brought no food and we had just a small amount of money, probably three shillings which would be 15p today. But that amount went quite a long way and we were more excited than hungry by that time. My brother went away for a short time to get our bearings. He returned with a small snack although I am unable to remember what it was.

The evening ticked by, there was a lot of singing behind us, people shared their food and offered us drinks from flasks. We told them our story and how we came to be there. We had run away from home and we were determined to see this great event.

All through the night there was so much going on and a lot of activity in the Mall. At about eleven o’clock we decided to lie down. We had no blankets, just a jacket and normal daywear with a cold pavement to lie on. There was an elderly lady next to us; I remember her name to this day, Edna. I guess she felt the cold and tried to get under my small jacket.
At about midnight the police asked us all to stand up. “Why?” I asked “Well, son, we need to get more people in this area,” came the reply. He was a large jovial-looking policeman. We all stood up and huddled together. I read in one account recently that 30,000 people slept in the Mall that night, but one thing is for sure: most of us had no sleep at all. At about one in the morning my brother Charles needed to use the toilet, which was situated in St. James’s park behind us. He was frightened he would lose his place; this was because there were at least 10 rows of people behind us, probably more. He turned to set off. By this time we had got to know the friendly people in our area. “Where are you going Charlie”? They asked. “To the toilet” he replied. The men said no more, they lifted him high and passed him hand over hand right to the back of the crowd. And when he returned, the same thing happened right back to the same spot; they were great people.

The night wore on; there was a lot of coming and going in Mall and in the area generally. It was a dull morning with outbreaks of rain. A grey cool dawn broke, but we all had inner warmth and everybody was smiling. Anybody and everybody that passed got a cheer and a wave. Suddenly at about 0530 a buzz went around the crowd, for some had an early edition newspaper.
Mount Everest had been conquered by the British Expedition. This was indeed great news on such a wonderful morning. The largest mountain on earth had been conquered by two men, one from New Zealand, Edmund Hillary, and the other from Nepal, Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. The Expedition’s leader was Colonel John Hunt. Edmund Hillary and Colonel Hunt were both knighted on their return to the U.K. A few months before this conquest we had an appeal at school which we all contributed to. We all felt so good.
More and more military personnel were forming up in the Mall with guardsmen marching up and down on both sides of the road. Although rehearsals had taken place, my interest was drawn to the guardsmen with pace sticks who were so efficient; they placed every guard in exactly the right position. By now various people, most in uniform and many mounted on horseback, were moving along the Mall.

Later cars, then horse drawn carriages were proceeding along the Mall towards Admiralty Arch taking various important people and their company to Westminster Abbey. Some were with mounted soldiers and some with foot soldiers. A military band was playing suitable music nearby; we were all getting very excited.

Two senior Mounted Police Officers passed by; they looked magnificent on their horses. Time was drawing near for us to witness one of the greatest events in modern times.

Suddenly we noticed an exceptional amount of noise coming from our left. The Coronation Procession proper had started. Up the Mall they came and what a sight it was! It must have been soon after 10am. Bands, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Mounted Canadians, Guardsmen, Royal Marines and senior Military Personnel from every corner of the world paraded by. There were so many I am unable to remember them all. I cheered and cheered and clapped until my arms ached and my hands were getting sore. And still they came; more and more.

Then in the distance we could see the great Gold Coach drawn by eight magnificent grey horses, four of them with mounted postilions caped and breeched. I later learned that the horses’ names were Snow White, Tedder, Tovey, Noah, Cunningham, Eisenhower, Tipperary, and McCreery. There were Yeomen of the Guard walking alongside and the Mounted Sovereign’s Escort, in front and at the rear of the coach. And there she was, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and what a magnificent sight! Radiant, she smiled and waved as she passed by. The band nearby played the National Anthem, and soon the procession came to an end. I was exhausted, but very happy.

The Mall – we were situated on the far side of The Mall, and to the right of this picture.

Many happy memories have always remained with me to this day. I wish to share two. The first was the Mounted Band of the Blues. They rode just in front of the Gold Coach, playing. It was to me a great wonder how these men could play instruments sitting on a horse, read music, and guide the horse with their knees all at the same time -and keep going in the right direction. The two drum horses of the Blues Mounted Band looked resplendent and magnificent.

My second memory is that of Queen Salote of Tonga, a great lady who was described by one commentator as “Gargantuan” and “Oceanic.” She was indeed, and six feet tall. She had a big smile and waved to everybody. On the return journey she refused to have the landau she was sharing with the Sultan of Kelatan closed, even though heavy rain was falling.

Soon the procession to Westminster Abbey drew to a close. It was going to be a long wait for the return of our new crowned monarch. Some of the crowd started to disperse, probably into St. James Park just behind us. Most stayed right were they were, unpacking lunch boxes and pouring drinks. The majority had come well prepared; unfortunately, we had not. We were both getting tired and hungry and our money was running low. Charles was keen to go to the Tower of London; there was to be a sixty-two gun salute at the moment of the Coronation. I was not so keen on that idea. We decided to go our separate ways. He made his way by underground to Tower Hill, and I made my way back to Victoria Railway Station. It took a long time as I had to go a roundabout route. I was not sure of the way on my own.

We perhaps would have been better to stay in St. James’s Park. We did not know that as well as a sixty-two gun salute at the Tower of London, there would also be a forty-one gun salute in St. James’s Park. However eventually I managed to get on a train to Redhill, then a No 405 bus home.

Walking up Wimbourne Avenue I began to wonder what sort of reception I would receive, or whether my brother had arrived before me. I do not remember the exact time but it must have been about four thirty pm that I got home. I got a strong reprimand instead of a walloping and I was grateful for that. My mother and father of course had guessed where I had been. My brother had not arrived home. I was given something to eat and the questions started. “Where is Charles?” “I am not sure; he went to the Tower of London.” “Where did you sleep?” “We stood up all night in the Mall,” “All night?” “Yes.” I had to answer so many questions, but it paved the way to save my brother the trouble.

He arrived home at about seven thirty, having fallen asleep on the train and ending up in Brighton. I laughed to myself, a day of happy memories. Soon it was time to go to bed.

I had a good night’s sleep. In the morning, after breakfast, I went out in the avenue chatting to school friends and neighbors. A few had televisions. They were telling me how wonderful the previous day had been. They had seen the coronation on a black and white twelve inch screen. They were being a little boastful letting me know they had a television. In our house we had neither radio nor television. “What did you do?” they asked. “I went to the coronation in London.” “Who with?” “Charles.” Many questions followed. I did my best to answer them all, sometimes with a little exaggeration and enlargement when required!

Interesting Coronation Facts

• • The Coronation service has taken place at Westminster Abbey for the last 900 years.
  • Queen Elizabeth 2nd was the 39th Sovereign to be crowned at Westminster Abbey.
  • The Coronation service used descends directly from that of King Edgar (973) in Bath.
  • The Earl Marshall, The Duke of Norfolk is responsible for organizing the Coronation.
  • The Queen, with the Duke of Edinburgh, was driven from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey in the Gold State Coach.
  • The Queen’s Coronation dress was made by Mr. Norman Hartnell.
  • The Coronation service started at 11:15 and lasted almost three hours, ending at 14:00.
  • One of the main reasons the second of June was chosen, was that the meteorological experts said it would be the sunniest day of the year. It was most definitely not.
  • Prince Charles became the first child in history to witness his mother’s Coronation as Sovereign.

A total of 8,125 guests attended The Queen’s Coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

One hundred and twenty-nine nations and territories were officially represented at the Coronation service.

The 1953 Coronation service was the first service to be televised.

An estimated 27 million people in Britain watched the ceremony on Television.

There were more than 2000 journalists and 500 photographers from 92 countries on the Coronation route.

The Ministry of food granted 82 applications for people to roast oxen, if they could prove that by tradition, an ox had been roasted at previous Coronations – a welcome concession in a country where the meat ration was two shillings a week.

There were 29,200 Officers and men taking part in the procession or lining the route, plus 1,000 Royal Military Police assisting the Metropolitan Police.

A Coronation Song

In a golden coach there’s a heart of gold riding through old London town,
With the sweetest Queen the world’s ever seen wearing a golden crown,
As she rides in state through the palace gate her beauty the whole world will see,
.In a gold coach there’s a heart of gold that belongs to you and me.

I actually sang part of the above song which was broadcast on television on Monday 16th November 2009 during the Channel 4 programme ‘The Queen in 3D’.

The Twist in the Tale

Mr Ernest and Mrs Maud Johnson lived at number twenty-six Wimbourne Avenue in 1953. They were members of the Salvation Army in Redhill and had two children, Pamela and Howard. We lived at number fifty-four. We were not allowed a radio or a television, my father attempting to run a strict household based on his religious convictions and as mentioned above, we children were not allowed to attend the street party to celebrate the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II.

On Sunday 3rd August 2008 I visited The Salvation Army situated in Chapel Road, Redhill to attend the morning service before returning to Bedford. I had been visiting the area over the weekend. Some fifty-five years had passed by since that day in 1953 when my brother Charles and I had journeyed to London to witness the coronation procession. Mr Howard Johnson and his sister Pamela greeted me and during the course of the conversation I gave my name. “Well” said Mr Johnson, “I remember the Gurr family in Wimbourne Avenue and I also remember they came to our house on Coronation day in 1953 to watch the television.”

At the time I did not fully comprehend what Mr. Johnson was telling me, but during my drive home to Bedford after the service it sank in. As the saying goes – I was amazed! Perhaps my father’s religious convictions went overboard that day. I am unable to speak for my brother Charles, but I am absolutely sure that we had one of the happiest and most memorable days of our lives on that day we went to London.

Recently I spoke on the telephone to Mr Johnson and his sister Mrs Pamela Belcher, and they told me how their father had built the television himself using an old radar screen, making a cabinet for the surround: what an achievement!

56 Years Later

Much to my surprise on the 6th August 2009 I received the e-mail set out below. Various phone calls and more mail followed.

Subject: The Queen in 3D
Date: 06 August 2009 13:19

Dear Michael,
I came across your website whilst researching a television programme that Renegade Pictures are producing. It is a two part Channel 4 History series called The Queen in 3D. The series is based on remarkable, newly-discovered footage of Her Majesty during the Coronation Week in 1953 filmed in 3D. The footage has been languishing in the vaults of the BFI and is part of a vanishingly rare body of 3-D newsreel films shot in the 1950s. The 3-D quality of the films gives them the surreal effect of almost being ‘inside’ the footage with Her Majesty herself…including the Coronation Procession, The Queen attending the Derby, visiting Edinburgh and performing various other public duties. There are also a number of other amazing 3D films documenting everyday life in Britain at the time. On the basis of this we are making a TV series about the films, and about the story of the Queen’s Coronation itself. And we are working with the Palace to produce new footage in 3D of Her Majesty going about her public duties over the course of the summer in 2009.

I found your amazing accounts of the Coronation Procession and also the Festival of Britain and we are very keen to speak with individuals who experienced these events first hand – I was wondering whether I might be able to speak with you over the phone about your memories?
Please feel free to contact me on the details below or let me know when might be a good time to call you.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Best Wishes, Hayley, Researcher, The Queen in 3-D

Dear Mick

I’m sorry to keep you hanging on about filming on Thursday. We have another contributor who is um-ing and ah-ing about what time she can make it to be interviewed first thing in the morning and obviously this has knock-on effects on the timings for the rest of the day. As far as I can confirm timings, we are expecting to film with you late morning on Thursday 17th September. We will be filming with you for around an hour, and I will arrange a car to bring you from St Pancras to the studio and back again afterwards.

We ask that you dress smart casual – don’t worry about being too formal. In addition, because we’re filming against a green screen background, there are certain items that I’m afraid you can’t wear, just in order that you don’t disappear into the background! Please ensure that you don’t wear the following:

Green Small checks
Hounds tooth Bright red

Please could you also make sure that you don’t wear anything with prominent logos on it, since this is forbidden by Channel 4 because it’s seen as advertising.

Being interviewed for C.4 television about my memories of Coronation Day at M.T.V studios, London

On Thursday17th September 2009 I journeyed to London to take part in the filming. Then, a few weeks later, I received another missive.

Dear Michael, I’m delighted to be able to invite you to a preview screening of The Queen in 3D at the National Film Theatre on Thurs 12th Nov. Please see the attached invitation for further details. Unfortunately, tickets are in very short supply so I’m afraid we have had to limit them to one per person – I’m afraid we aren’t allowed any ‘plus ones’ for this event. If you would like to come, please RSVP by return. Best wishes, Sophie
I did attend and it was a great evening.

Shortly afterwards, I heard from Sophie again:

Dear Michael,
I am really thrilled to let you know that ‘The Queen in 3D’ will be on TV very soon… Please make sure you (and all your friends and family!) tune in to Channel 4:- at 9pm on Monday 16th November for episode 1 – at 9pm on Tuesday
17th November for episode 2

And don’t forget your 3D glasses! You should be able to pick them up for free in Sainsburys. There’s more information on the Channel 4 website if you’re interested – thanks so much for your participation in this project. It’s true to say that it really wouldn’t have been possible without you.
Best wishes, Sophie

From our local paper
Bedfordshire On Sunday
Pensioner relives Coronation trek
BY ELLEN FRAMPTON
Sunday 15th November 2009

Newly-discovered 3d footage from the Queen’s Coronation in 1953 is to be shown on television this week.
‘The Queen in 3D’ features Kempston resident Michael Gurr, 69, speaking as an eyewitness to the event.

Coming from a strict religious sect, his family did not have a television or radio and did not attend the street party. To be part of the great event the 12-year-old Michael and his twin brother Charlie ran away to London without telling anyone.
At the time he lived in Redhill in Surrey and he said the journey led him ‘to witness one of the greatest events in modern times’.

The ex-fireman turned magician described the experience as ‘a day of happy memories’ which has become an “enduring memory”. The programme follows the story of film makers Bob Angell and Arthur Wooster who used a pioneering 3D camera rig to film a colour newsreel called ‘Royal Review’.

It shows a variety of royal engagements in the weeks before and after the coronation, including the Coronation Procession as well as the Queen attending the Derby and visiting Edinburgh. There are commentaries from the film-makers themselves, along with historians, royal biographers and eyewitnesses sharing their own memories of the events. The old films are shown alongside footage of the Queen today, shot by the same film makers. The two episodes of ‘The Queen in 3D’ will be shown on Channel 4 on November 16 and 17 at 9pm. You will need 3D glasses and these can be picked up free from Sainsbury’s.