Cold) tea on Rectory Meadow

Copyright: Ivan J. Underwood – (Cold) Tea on Rectory Meadow

On Coronation Day June 2, 1953, hundreds of Diss residents gathered, amid flurries of snow, for a celebratory tea in Rectory Meadow. Local photographer at the time, Ivan J. Underwood, captured the celebrations on his camera. As Diss prepares to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June, we share this iconic photograph, and some of the memories it has brought back.

“It was a chilly day, hence the winter coats. On the back of photo, mum wrote ‘Very cold, flurry of snow early morning’.” June Eagle

“Doris Riley is my grandma and Maureen Riley my mum. They can recall going to the Rectory Meadow and walking from the school to the picture house to watch it.” Anne Emsden “I remember this. We lived at No 5 Uplands Way. Mum (Irene Madgett) became secretary of the Uplands-Willbye Association, which grew out of this event. I still have the Coronation mug and plate. I seem to remember all of us being given a new 1953 Elizabeth II shiny shilling.” Paul Madgett

“If I recall correctly, the Coronation film came to the Picture House a week or two after the event itself. I can remember milling around outside the Picture House before we were let in.” Michael Rice

“I remember this day very well. My mum bought me a red, white and blue check dress, red sandals and white socks. I felt very special. I still have the bible we were given, but unfortunately the mug got broken over the years.” Pauline Scoulding

“We had only moved to the area the year before. My sister Jackie and I were in the fancy dress parade in Roydon. Our mother made our costumes. I was Britannia and Jackie was a red, white and blue rosette!!” Gill Steggles

“I remember Coronation Day vividly even though I was only 2 years old. People from up and down Croft Lane were huddled in the lounge with the curtains drawn trying to watch it on our very dim and unreliable TV. I was hobbling around free and let myself out of the open front door. Dad ran out to catch me before I made it to the road!” Paul Frindle

“Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation was the first national event I remember, although I was probably unaware that it was the Coronation. My brother and I dressed in fancy dress and we attended a concert in Chitty’s garage on the same day. I can remember someone playing the piano and singing ‘How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?’ In the evening, we went to the Picture House to see Alan Ladd in ‘The Red Beret’. As we came home up The Entry, there was a gymkhana on the Rectory Meadow. Schoolchildren were all given mugs to commemorate the Coronation; and I still have mine.” Basil Abbott

Life behind the lens: Ivan J. Underwood

Living locally for most of his life, Ivan Underwood’s photography business was based on Victoria Road in Diss. Known by many as “the local photographer”, he was involved in active service with Bomber Command and took part in over 40 flight missions. He passed away on Monday 23 November 2015, aged 94. His memory lives on in the moving photograph opposite (and many others he took of local scenes and events).