I have to say that Coronation day was a bit of a non-event for me and I could not quite understand what all the fuss was about.
Because my uncle Ron had the T.V. shop in the Triangle, we were one of the first to have a T.V. in Bremilham Terrace; the T.V. arrived a few weeks before the Coronation. My father and Uncle fussed over it like it was a new born baby and I distinctly remember that the setting up of the T.V. aerial was fraught with difficulties not least of which was pointing the aerial to get the best reception. I think it was eventually pointed to Sutton Coldfield.
I remember that coronation day was a fairly cold overcast day and in London it was wet, but in Malmesbury was just a chilly overcast day. The T.V. was switched on mid morning and all the neighbours kept popping in and out to keep up with what was happening. While I was told more than once during the day that this was history and I should stay inside and watch it, I eventually got fed up and went outside to play with my toys.
I don't recall a street party, but I remember that along with loads of kids, we all attended a outdoor party at the big house opposite the hospital (Burton Hill House), which if memory serves me right was a disabled or convalescent home.
I got the obligatory mug, which mother proudly added to the rest of the collection.
