My earliest memory

Last year Britain celebrated the Diamond Jubilee, but the Queen's Coronation actually took place the following year in 1953 - 60 years ago on June 2. The Coronation was one of my earliest memories: I was only four at the time, but it was such a great day that I remember it all so clearly.

I wasn't born in Pembroke, but in Tenby. In contrast to rainy London, it was a lovely summer's day here and I remember going to the new Infants School in Heywood Lane to see a film, or newsreel about our new Queen. I was among the first children to go to that school - built with the war still fresh in the memory, it was designed so that it could be converted into a hospital.

We were one of the first families to have a television and the neighbours crammed into our sitting room to watch the coronation live on our new television set, a very small 12-inch screen housed in a big wooden cabinet. It was black and white of course, but we thought it was wonderful. In those days there wasn't much on - remember 'Watch with Mother' in the early afternoon? - 15 minutes of Andy Pandy, Picture Book, The Flower Pot Men, Rag Tag and Bobtail or the Wooden Tops, then nothing until children's hour at 5 o'clock. No one could accuse us of being tv addicts!

Afterwards there were sports on the beach, lots of pop, and back home to enjoy a big street party. There was dressing up and entertainment and we were all given a mug and a silver crown (five shillings - 25p in today's money) in a plastic case. I still have mine. What a wonderful community life we had then!

The Queen's Tour

I have not yet succeeded in finding many pictures of the Coronation day in Pembroke – Coronation parties were held and there was a carnival. However, two years later the Queen arrived at Pembroke station on her tour of August 8, 1955, and we are fortunate to have a good collection of photographs around this event.

Pauline Waters remembers the day well. "I was standing outside Cromwell's Tavern when the Queen came to the Castle, having been driven there from the station. There were crowds all along the Main Street, cheering and waving the Union Jack. Later, I had the privilege of having a seat on the jetty at Neyland, my father being a Special Constable. It was a long wait, but eventually the Queen walked past me on her way down to the Royal launch and I remember thinking, is this really the Queen, where's her crown? Anyway, I was so mesmerised by the whole occasion that I forgot to take a photograph with the Brownie camera that I was clasping in my hand!

"I saw the Queen in the Dockyard when she came in from the Royal Yacht," Jean Williams told me. "There were a lot of people there and I remember her wearing a royal blue coat, a pink hat and white shoes. The Duke was so friendly and smiling at us. It was quite a day - the Main Street was absolutely packed."

Has anyone else any memories of the Queen? If so contact us - we'd like to hear them.

Contact

If you have any stories or photographs for this column, please contact me, Linda Asman, on 01646 622428, email [email protected]">[email protected] and visit our website http://www.pembrokeandmonktonhistory.org.uk">www.pembrokeandmonktonhistory.org.uk

Next Event

We are working with Pembroke Town Council on the Pembroke Museum Project which is opening in Pembroke Town Hall on Saturday at 10.30 am to 12.30 pm.

We still need volunteers to man the exhibition and are also hoping that our appeal for material, memorabilia, photos etc. will bring some response.

The society is organising a coffee morning and Nancy Davies will be introducing a slide show, 'Pembroke in Old Picture Postcards', to add to the interest. The event is free.