Proclamation
On Friday 8 February 1952, the proclamation of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II was read out at 3pm by Alderman R. J. Boak, the Mayor of Glossop Borough Council.
The proclamation was made outside the Town Hall, at the Old Cross in Old Glossop and on the Steps of the War Memorial in Hadfield. Hundreds of people attended including crowds of school children. Loud cheers were made for the new Queen.
Preparations
Glossop Borough Council began preparations for Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation a year before. A Coronation Committee was appointed alongside three sub-committees – Children’s Committee, Entertainments Committee and Old People’s Committee.
The Committees were allowed to co-op members from other organisations in the town. However, the co-opted members were not allowed to vote on financial matters. They planned for activities for the full week from Saturday 30 May – Saturday 6 June 1953.
Programme
Throughout the following months the programme was decided and arrangements made. The Glossop Chronicle published the full programme on 22 May 1953. The Council also produced a Coronation Souvenir Programme that was available for one shilling. It was for sale in mills, shops and the Rates Office in the Municipal Buildings.
It wasn’t just the Council that had organised events for the Coronation week. Glossop Chamber of Trade had organised a Coronation Shopping Festival. Vouchers were given for a prize draw. Other lucky people won a prize if they had the corresponding numbered souvenir programme to the numbers displayed in certain shops. Children could challenge mystery men to receive newly minted Coronation coins.
Many organisations and churches held their own Coronation parties for their members. The Glossop Women’s Co-operative Guild held a tea and community sing a long and games in their Guild rooms the week before.
Official Opening
The week of events began on Saturday 30 May at Manor Park. The proceedings were started by the Mayor, Alderman R. A. Beckmann, a son in law of Isaac and Harriet Jackson and a manager at the Hawkshead Works. He had been elected Mayor for the second time a few weeks before, after 25 years of service in the Council.
Members of the Town Council gathered outside the pavilion. Speeches were made into a microphone to ensure everyone heard. Alderman Beckmann thanked those who had helped to organise the week.
He then accepted an electric clock for the pavilion that was presented by the Glossop Townwomen’s Guild. The Mayor pulled a cord to release the Union Jack covering the clock above the pavilion’s entrance.
The opening ceremony was followed by Punch and Judy, a pet show, coconut shy and other entertainments all evening.
At 7.30pm a Coronation Dance was held at Victoria Hall with the Melochords Band, a bar and refreshments at three shillings a ticket.
Civic Procession
On Sunday was a civic procession from the Market Ground to All Saints Parish Church, Old Glossop where a Divine Service was held.
The town was awash with bunting and flags. Shopkeepers had decorated their shops and local factories had created original displays in their entrances. The Council had decorated and floodlit all the public buildings. The Howard lion on top of the train station was given a new coat of cream paint.
In the afternoon was a concert in Manor Park by the Besses o’ th’ Barn Band.
Cricket Competition
On the afternoon of Monday 1 June there was a three a side cricket tournament at the North Road cricket ground. It promised to be a fast and entertaining, two and a half hour, contest. The winning team received three bats as a prize. Tickets were 6d. The money raised at the event went to the Borough’s Coronation Fund.
In the evening old people’s tea parties and entertainments were held at several halls in the Borough. Transport to the parties had been provide by the Rotary Club and others. The entertainments included a quartet from what used to be Glossop Old Band.
Coronation Day
Tuesday 2 June was Coronation Day. It was marked in a very different way to previous Coronations. There were no daytime gatherings and the entertainments by the Council did not begin until 8pm.
Day Schools arranged their own celebrations. These included ceremonies with readings before the presentation of souvenirs. The souvenirs had been provided by Derbyshire County Council. The County Education Committee had allowed two shillings per child for Coronation festivities. The Glossop head teachers had decided to use the money to provide a Coronation “beaker” or mug to each child.
The Council gave babies born on Coronation Day gift tokens for a special souvenir. Pre school children, under the age of five years, could receive a souvenir spoon and tin of chocolates. Parents of those children, who did not attend school, could collect the souvenirs from various distribution point on production of the new green ration book. In December 1953 the Council gave the surplus chocolates to local nursery schools and sold the remaining spoons.
Many streets held their own parties and gatherings. For the first time the Coronation would be broadcast on Television. The Coronation broadcast had been published in the Glossop Chronicle the week before and ran from 10am-5.20pm on the day. There had been a huge demand for service made to local television dealers in the run up to the Coronation week.
At 8pm the Mayor’s Coronation Ball was held at the Victoria Hall until 3am the next morning. The Mayor sent up a rocket outside the Victoria Hall at 10pm, as a signal to light a beacon on the Nab. The local scouts had prepared the impressive beacon that could not be missed.
Decorated Streets and Sports Competitions
On Wednesday was the judging of the best decorated streets and houses competition. Bernard Street and Edward Street traditionally won these competitions with spectacular displays. Edward Street won first prize, and Walker Street, Hadfield and Kershaw Street won second and third place. No 1 Prospect Villas was awarded the best decorated home.
In the evening were the finals of the bowling knockout competition in Manor Park. The winner of the bowling competition received a silver tankard engraved with the Borough crest. The planned tennis exhibition matches were cancelled until a later date.
On Thursday there was a swimming gala and water polo matches at Wood’s Baths. There were many prizes including special Coronation medals for the winning school teams. The evening ended with a display of swimming to music by Mrs Hall of Hyde and her girls.
Elizabethan Evening
On Friday 5 June Glossop Townswomen’s Guild held an Elizabethan evening at the Victoria Hall. They gave an enjoyable performance. They sang excerpts from “Merrie England” by Edward German and presented a playlet “The Queen’s Ring” by L. du Garde Peach.
Procession
Saturday marked the highlight of the week. A grand procession from Hadfield to Manor Park. Hundreds of people lined the route and seats had been provided for the elderly. The procession was led by Glossop Band. It began at Bankbottom, Hadfield, then went via Station Road, Railway Street, Hadfield Road and Woolley Bridge. Then on to Brookfield, Dinting Vale and up the High Street to Manor Park.
Industries and organisations created tableaux on the back of lorries including Methodist Chapels, Salvation Army, Scouts, St John Ambulance, dance troupes, Wood Bros, C.P.A., Norfolk Laundry, Ritz Manufacturing and Vol-Crepe. Prizes were won by the best displays.
The procession reached Glossop at 3.20pm. Large crowds had gathered in Manor Park, the biggest that had been there for a long time. “It just shows how people would flock here if the corporation provided some attraction like this regularly” was one comment.
In the park were sideshows and entertainments. The Frolics Dance Troupe put on a show and the Co-operative Society provided film shows. The Gas Board put on cookery demonstrations making nutty meringues and roundabout cake.
There was an unending queue for the free ice cream that was given to those that had taken part in the procession.
The winning tickets were also drawn for the Chamber of Trade’s shopping festival.
To end the week long festivities another Coronation Dance was held at the Victoria Hall with the Regent Dance Band.
Coronation Film at Glossop
The last weekend in June was very busy for the Empire Cinema on High Street West. It was estimated that 12,000 people saw the full-length Technicolor Coronation film “A Queen Is Crowned”. This included 3,625 children from local schools who attended special performances.
Memories
“Glossop is somewhere special for me.
Tuesday 2nd June 1953 was also the night my (now late) parents went out together for the first time. They were married 5 years later, after Dad came back from National Service abroad. They began their married life in Glossop and their ashes interred in the cemetery. We visit often.”
Jane Wilkinson-Shute, May 2023