KNEES-UP KNEES-UP

Giovanni Spano at the Carfax bandstand. Elsewhere, there was a host of street parties and celebratory events, with an impressive array of classic cars parking up in Steyning, while The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh popped into Cranleigh’s Big Lunch event and tried a Coronation chicken pie. Bank Holiday Monday saw the launch of the Big Help Out, a national initiative to help boost volunteering .

In the following pages, we look back at how Horsham town has celebrated the coronation of a monarch in the past. From barrels of beer and plum puddings for the poor, to big band nights and street parties, we’ve always known how to throw a party. But our look back through the archives, done with the help of historian Jeremy Knight, raises one question: Why were there no King Charles III commemorative mugs for the schoolchildren?

Queen Victoria

News of the death of William IV reached Horsham on 25 June 1837, five days after the King’s passing. One year later, on Thursday 28 June 1838, the town celebrated the Coronation of Queen Victoria.

The time between the two events provided time for planning, meaning that souvenirs could be given to each child and that copious refreshments were provided, as recorded by Henry Burstow in his 1911 book, Reminiscences of Horsham: ‘Early in the morning, the church bells began to peal. All shops were closed by 11.30am, when the children in the town – about 800, including myself – assembled in the Causeway. Each child was provided with a knife, fork and mug, and a ticket on which was printed, “Victoria, Crowned 28th June 1838.”

‘Headed by a band, the procession marched round the town and then to Swan Field, so called from its connection with the Swan Inn, West Street. There were several booths into which barrels of beer were rolled and quickly consumed by people anxious to prove by their drinking capacity their devotion to the Throne. There was also a temporary wooden bandstand erected upon which the old Town Band played and drank. A substantial dinner of roast beef and plum pudding was provided for the poor in the field, and also for the inmates of the County Gaol and Workhouse. Public dinners were also given at the Anchor and Richmond Hotels, and a ball at the King’s Head was one of the most drunken days that I remember.’

King Edward Vii

Following her death, Queen Victoria’s body was transported by train, passing through Horsham on its way to London. When Horsham marked the coronation of Edward VII, it celebrated Britain’s past with an historic procession organised by the Horsham Carnival Society. Themes included Sir Francis Drake continuing to play bowls when informed of the approaching Spanish Armada, and Horatio Nelson’s heroics at Trafalgar.

Coronation Day was going to be 26 June, but was postponed to 9 August. An organising committee was established, starting with services at St Mary’s, St Mark’s and Holy Trinity. Music was played by the Horsham Town Band on the Carfax bandstand. This was followed by an

Catering for all your plumbing needs l Heating supplies (radiators, copper tubes, insulation etc) l Modern, energy-efficient combi boilers l Plumbing materials (heating pumps, cylinders, sundries etc)

Old Peoples’ Dinner at the King’s Head Assembly Rooms, and an assembly of societies and children in the Carfax and North Street. At 2.30pm, there was a procession involving the Town Band, Fire Brigade, Salvation Army Band and the Church Lads’ Brigade Band, followed by a children’s tea and more music.

King George V

Horsham celebrated the Coronation of George V on Thursday 22 June 1911. The core element was once again a procession, with ‘cars’ representing various historical events (not motor cars, but carriages with tableaux) including the Battle of Waterloo and Britain’s overseas colonies.

Celebrations began at 10am with the national anthem performed by the Horsham Town Band and the Horsham Recreation Silver Band. The Silver Band continued to play, while the Town Band led the Territorials on parade to St Mary’s, where members of the Horsham Urban District Council were waiting for the 11am service. The Old People’s Dinner was held at the Corn Exchange, before the party headed to the Horsham Central Picture Hall. At 3.30pm, schoolchildren of

Horsham were presented with mugs (Horsham Museum has a couple in its collections) and this was followed by a tea for children in Manor House Meadow, where there was also an ‘Ascent of Fire Balloons’ and games. At 7pm, the historic procession was followed by music and a ‘Battle of Confetti’.

King Edward Viii

Horsham, like the nation in general, had looked forward to the Coronation of King Edward VIII. A sub-committee of the council was formed to co-ordinate events and activities, and committed to giving every school child in Horsham Urban District a mug, produced by the British Pottery Manufacturers Federation. However, after the story about the King’s relationship with Wallis Simpson came out, Edward VIII abdicated and George VI was declared King. In Horsham, the order for King Edward VIII Coronation mugs was cancelled! But, as the County Times reported, there was still a Coronation to prepare for; just not the one intended...

‘Preparation for the Coronation celebrations will be resumed early in the New Year. The work had been proceeding rapidly until the crisis