Voices of Jubilation Coronation 1953
Silver Jubilee 1977 Golden Jubilee 2002
Diamond Jubilee 2012
The stories associated with the celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign and how communities in East Sussex participated in them‌
Contents
Foreword
1953 The Coronation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Taking part in the occasion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Television. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Celebrations.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Food, fun and games. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Decorations, crafts and mementoes.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Singing and dancing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The Church.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Fashion.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Timeline 1953. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Between July 2013 and May 2014, volunteers from across East Sussex took part in a Heritage Lottery Funded project which examined how people in the County celebrated the Queen’s Jubilations from the Coronation to the Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees. Volunteers who trained in research and oral history skills, practised their learning by helping with research and/or interviewing people with stories to tell. From Forest Row in the North West of the County to Winchelsea in the South East, stories were gathered about bonfires and beacons, community events and celebrations from processions, fetes and concerts to a soap box derby. Also recorded were details of all manner of legacies from a single commemorative tree to a complete garden dedicated to the Queen’s Golden Jubilee for use by the whole community and even a telephone box library!
The people of East Sussex celebrated in typical eccentric English style as well as in more formal and serious ways, and this booklet is the culmination of the research and recordings that have been made. Whilst it has not been possible to include everything in this booklet, every contribution has been worthwhile and will be held by the Mass Observation Unit at East Sussex Records Office. During the course of our research, we sought those who had made a conscious decision not to celebrate. Whilst we found a few people who had preferred not to participate in the celebrations because of their views, they were in the minority and did not want to be interviewed. Those that participated expressed great respect for the Queen, not just because of her hard work and dedication to her country, but because she brings people together and instils a sense of community. One of our volunteers summed it up nicely when he said… “There is no doubt about it, the Queen is absolutely dedicated to a life of duty and she does a lot of work on our behalf and a lot of good for the country. You go to London and that’s what the tourists want to see. They want to see Buckingham Palace and all the historic buildings because that’s what we are, we’re an island of history. That’s why I’m here, because people like to tell stories about history and it’s important because if it’s not told, nobody will ever know.”
The Coronation procession
1977 The Silver Jubilee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Memories of 1953.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The theme of unity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Food and Fashion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bonfires and beacons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Church.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Timeline 1977. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11 11 12 13 14 15
2002 The Golden Jubilee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Street parties, fun and games. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Timeline 2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Legacies.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Early in the morning of 6th February 1952, King George VI died in his sleep at Sandringham. He was 56 years old and had been on the throne for 15 years.
2012 The Diamond Jubilee.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Republicanism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bonfires and beacons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Green projects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Street parties, fun and games. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Timeline 2012. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Food. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Technology and Fashion.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Legacies.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Lieutenancy.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21 21 22 23 25 26 26 28 29
Thank yous and Credits.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 JUBILATIONS — CONTENTS AND FOREWORD
King George VI
“In February 1952 when King George the sixth died, I was in school and we came in from morning break and I had a maths lesson, and the teacher came in and announced to us that the King had died. He was quite emotional about it and we class of boys immediately fell silent. It was really astounding news for us and I don’t remember what happened in the maths lesson afterwards but I do remember how serious it was, and of course from then on, we looked forward to the Coronation.” Ken Thomas, Etchingham
The Coronation Elizabeth was not crowned until 2nd June 1953, a day chosen after lengthy consultations with meteorologists, who declared it the most likely date for good weather. They were wrong: it rained on the biggest royal parade modern Britain had ever seen, but it didn’t dampen spirits. The Coronation of 26 year old Queen Elizabeth II symbolised a fresh start to a country trying to rebuild itself after the Second World War. Many saw it as a new Elizabethan Age, although the Queen herself never liked this description. On the morning of the Coronation on 2nd June, the exciting news came through that the British Everest Expedition had reached the summit of the world’s highest mountain. There was still rationing in Britain, but Prime Minister, Winston Churchill was determined that for a nation in the grip of post-war austerity this momentous occasion would also be an opportunity for a party. He granted everyone an extra 1lb of sugar and caterers were allowed extra rations of sugar and fat.
Queen Elizabeth II, Everest headlines and commemorative issues — much to celebrate
Aged 16, Hazel Langley got a ticket to watch the Coronation through her school. She set off at 5 o’clock in the morning in order to get to London by 6am. She took up her position right on the barrier facing the Westminster Abbey, by the stairs. She had a real bird’s eye view. “We couldn’t believe it when the Queen’s coach arrived because it was literally carved and painted with paint made out of gold, real gold and it was magnificent. It was quite a problem when they got her out because she had this train that was about 20 feet or more long and she had six ladies in waiting and they all had their own little sort of coronets on and they had to put it in place and take the weight of it as she went up the stairs. The Duke was in full naval gear and he looked quite superior and magnificent himself.” Hazel Langley, Eastbourne
Hazel Langley, 1953
“We walked down the Mall and it was just jam packed and I was only knee high to a grasshopper, I was a very small ten year old, and the crowd was so big I was just lifted off the ground and as we walked down the Mall, I was just suspended with all these people and then they started singing God Save the Queen. We watched the Queen on the balcony, little figures, like miniature dolls and everybody shouting and screaming.” Andrew Broderick Ward, Crowhurst Rain did not deter spectators on the day of the Coronation
1953 CORONATION — JUBILATIONS
1
“We got a map from one of the newspapers, where the route was going and we walked all round Whitehall, all full of people, absolutely masses and it was drizzling with rain, it wasn’t very nice. And we sat down and everybody was chatting, it was lovely meeting everyone and all the soldiers were coming along and we got on the curb and said we weren’t going to move. So we sat there and we went and bought about 8 Daily Mirrors I think, to sit on because it was cold. The Queen of Tonga came past, she was magnificent in an open Landau and she had this beautiful ethnic beaded dress on and was standing up in her Landau waving and the crowd roared.
Newspaper coverage of the Coronation in 1953
When I got back the next day, my mother said, “I didn’t expect you to last out, I thought you’d be home by 9 o’clock, but I wasn’t, I stayed out all night and I’d never been out all night before.” Shirley Rowledge, Eastbourne “It was wonderful. Everybody was uninhibited. Lovely feeling, lovely atmosphere. And she was beautiful, so beautiful.” Mary Grant, Eastbourne
Taking part in the occasion
Left to right: The ten from Eton College Choir School chosen to sing at Westminster Abbey (Malcolm Tegg is on the far right), Malcolm just after receiving his Westminster Abbey wages and (far right) having just gained his Choral Scholarship to the Choir School
Malcolm Tegg was a chorister at Eton College Choir School and one of ten there who sang at the Coronation. There were over 400 choristers all together and they started learning the music six months beforehand with lots of rehearsing in the Abbey. Malcolm remembers the sense of occasion and the music such as William Walton’s Te Deum. On the morning of the Coronation, they were picked up at 5am and the coach was waved through by police at every junction. Malcolm’s parents were at home with several family members watching the service on a specially bought television. “When the Queen arrived at the West door to process, the music started for Zadok the Priest and you really knew then, come on chaps, you’re on now, and when my wife and I were at the service in Westminster Abbey to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary, they did exactly the same, and it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.” Malcolm Tegg, Eastbourne
Whilst he was a cadet in the Metropolitan Police, Antony Bayfield was appointed as the Queen’s Press Runner at her Coronation. He was chosen because he was a fast runner who ran marathons and half marathons. In 1953 when there was no instant television, film had to be flown around the world in order to be viewed. The broadcaster, Richard Dimbleby, was situated right at the top of Westminster Abbey filming the Coronation and as soon as a roll of film was ready, Antony had to run down the stairs and hand it to a waiting motorbike rider who would be revved up and ready to take it to the airport. He had to do this many, many times during the course of the morning. Antony and Susan Bayfield
2
“The atmosphere was very dramatic and when I paused for a breath I saw the Queen of Tonga passing by and the crowd were singing, ‘linger longer Queen of Tonga from your Haitian land.’” Antony Bayfield, Bexhill on Sea JUBILATIONS — 1953 CORONATION
Television
The Queen, Churchill and palace advisors were all against the live coverage of the Coronation, fearful that it would turn into a piece of theatre and that close ups of the monarch would be intrusive; but when permission was refused there was a public outcry, angry newspaper articles and debates in parliament. It was a turning point in relations between the media and the palace. Despite the sales of TV sets rocketing, fewer than two million people had television sets at the time, but watching the occasion on television became a defining feature of the day for many people. In Wadhurst for example, ‘it is doubtful if a single resident failed to see the London scenes on television, as those who did not view them at home or in a friend’s house were well catered for at the County Secondary School, where 3 sets were installed.’ In Lewes ‘a television centre’ opened in the Assembly Room of the Town Hall at 10am through the cooperation of radio dealers in the town. The deputy mayor had to make a personal approach to the manufacturers however, when it looked as though they may not acquire the sets in time due to demand. In Rotherfield the school was crowded with villagers watching two television sets.
Dorothy Sparks
There was also a Technicolor film produced called a Queen is Crowned. It was narrated by Laurence Olivier who pre-recorded his narration so the film could be released very quickly after the Coronation. It was shown over 3 days at the Odeon cinema in Lewes. “We couldn’t watch it on television, because we hadn’t got one, but I’d recently met a young man and we’d been out a couple of times. His family had got a television and his parents were out for the day, so Cedric (who later became my husband) and another couple went round to his place and we watched the actual ceremony on television.” Mary Grant, Eastbourne “We had no television, we didn’t have very much money actually, we did have a wireless and the children weren’t at school yet, so we all gathered in the front room and we listened to the broadcast. I don’t know how long it went on, but it seems to be all day long. I didn’t do any cooking, I’d made sandwiches and we just sat and listened, and we had a fire because it was cold, windy and wet – a horrible day.” Georgina Sealey, Uckfield “My family were invited to see the Coronation up at Colonel Gordon’s, who lived up the village. He had a television and we all crowded round this tiny little 8” screen and we thought it was amazing. It really was amazing.” John Dann, East Dean “I was a St John Ambulance Cadet on duty at Brighton seafront when a police officer came and asked us if we’d like to see the event on television. So off we went from the seafront to the Royal York buildings and the police had a club there with a television with a back projection screen, very grainy, black and white, but it was quite interesting and you could see moving pictures. It was the first time I’d seen a television, so we watched that maybe for about an hour.” Ron Cook, Lewes “We went up to the neighbouring farm, they were much better off than us and they had a television. It was all in black and white and when the children got fed up with the military parade, we went outside and played in the yard.” Dorothy Sparks, Uckfield
1953 CORONATION — JUBILATIONS
Georgina Sealey
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Celebrations
The celebrations across East Sussex had lots of common elements. Children were central to many of the events with street parties, teas on a grand scale (often catering for hundreds), sports and games and souvenir gifts organised for them. The oldest residents weren’t forgotten either and in Ringmer for example 60 older people went to Tunbridge Wells by coach paid for by the Parish Council’s Coronation Committee. In Lewes a souvenir gift was even provided for those too infirm to attend the coach trip arranged to Wannock Gardens in Polegate. It seems no one was to be left out.
Bonfire Society members from Lewes have dressed up as North American indians for over an hundred years
Nigel Harrison won first prize for his Beefeater Costume
Many Sussex traditions were incorporated into local events such as stoolball matches, beacon lighting, torchlit processions and bonfires. There was a beacon lit on Plumpton plain which was part of a chain along the Downs and a stoolball match held between Plumpton Stoolball club and Streat cricket club. Teas were served afterwards in the memorial hall by the Womens Institute, a good example of various community groups all playing their part. In Lewes a torchlit procession was organised by the combined bonfire societies. 4,000 torches were made so that people could join in (wearing fancydress). They held a procession to the Old Fair Ground near the prison where tableaux and set pieces were set off and a there was a fireworks display finale. “I remember a big party down at the village hall, where we were all in fancy dress and my sister was Queen Elizabeth the First and I was a Beefeater, and I believe we actually won first and second prize. In those days there was no television very much and people tended to make more of their own entertainment, but it was most memorable.” Nigel Harrison, Hadlow Down “The Coronation day I spent in Buxted playing with the Buxted Silver Band. It was a very cold day, we were all huddled up in coats. We carried on for the rest of the week at Uckfield where there was a big do all through the week and one of my memories was on Saturday, two bands, Fairwarp Band and Buxted Band each sitting on lorries trying to play as they were driven along, with carnivals following with people in fancy dress with the theme of the Coronation.” Christopher Greenwood, Hadlow Down
Party goers in fancy dress at Hadlow Down Village Hall in 1953
“The problem was that I had to have a Jock of the Green and I didn’t have a choice you see, I wanted it to be my boyfriend but it wasn’t. It was Ray Wicking, but as he was dressed in an old crinoline covered in green crepe paper, you couldn’t really see much of him anyway, but he had to put the crown on my head and he was quite thrilled and I wasn’t! But I remember I was wearing a bridesmaid’s dress that I’d worn for a wedding the year before, which was probably getting a bit tight and the soggy crown so it was probably all a bit of a shambles!” Jane Booth Clibborn, East Dean “And in the afternoon, we went to Birling Manor and they had a punch and Judy which I’d never seen before and archery and different shows in the garden. And by then, my mother had dressed me up as an Elizabethan with a ruff and after an hour or so, my chin was quite sore and I wasn’t allowed to take it off because I was a new Elizabethan. It was a happy time and we were very proud to be British and proud to celebrate the Coronation.” John Dann, East Dean
Punch and Judy 4
JUBILATIONS — 1953 CORONATION
Food, fun and games
Throughout World War II food had been rationed in Britain and this did not end fully until 1954 so there were limited supplies in the shops and people could only buy what was in their ration books so they had to be very careful. They made homemade jams and baked cakes and tea parties would most likely have consisted of spam, dripping or corned beef sandwiches and lots of trifle, jelly and custard. One bonus was that sweet rationing ended early in the Coronation year.
Despite rationing still being in place, coupons were saved up to make a centrepiece cake
Coronation chicken was invented by an English food writer and flower arranger by the name of Constance Spry and a chef, Rosemary Hume. The dish,which was prepared for the banquet of the Coronation, was made from cold chicken mixed with a curry flavoured mayonnaise and diced apricots.
In Crowborough at a street party 150 children from Alderbrook estate and ten boys from Barnardos Beacons School were given a sixpence, a bag of sweets and two oranges.
“Coronation chicken was invented by an English food writer and flower arranger by the name of Constance Spry and a chef, Rosemary Hume”
In Wadhurst children’s sports in the afternoon were followed by tea for 500 children who were all given a Coronation mug. In Lewes teas for school children were held over three days to accommodate everyone followed by entertainment from the Lewes Little Theatre Club. At the East Dean and Friston Coronation Fair, the children had souvenir tins of chocolates and Smarties after their tea. “And what a spread it was too, I remember it to this day, sausage rolls, jellies, fruit, lemonade, blancmange, sandwiches, bridge rolls and two Coronation cakes with E2R on them in silver balls” Frances Lloyd, Eastbourne
In Rotherfield children’s sports took place in the afternoon of Coronation day organised by the combined committees of both the cricket and football clubs; there were novelty events for all ages even toddlers. Afterwards 250 children went to the school for tea and they were presented with Coronation mugs for those under 9 and medals for those ten and over. In Seaford childrens sports were organised on the Salts recreation ground and Newhaven and Seaford Sea Cadets held a display of physical training there to music by the Seaford branch of the British Legion. The East Dean and Friston Fair included Hoopla, Skittles, Greasy Pole, Tilting the Bucket and Maypole Dancing. Tilting the Bucket – competitors try to escape a dowsing!
1953 CORONATION — JUBILATIONS
Above, Coronation activities at Birling Manor, East Dean
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Decorations, Crafts and Mementoes
In London the streets were adorned with amazing decorative arches and suspended crowns and all over the country the streets were decorated with bunting and flags. Woolworth had spotted the opportunity and its buyers had surpassed themselves. They had cleverly held the price of decorations artificially low, offering Gold Foil Crowns selling for just 3D (1½p), the royal coat of arms for 9D (4p) and an alphabet of gold letters, including the obligatory E and R, at 6D (2½p) each. Other souvenir items including flags, bunting, tablecloths, mugs, glass plates, china teapots and special bars of chocolate. The offer as a whole helped to establish F.W. Woolworth as the Coronation store, and secured its reputation with a new generation. “They had banners and union jacks on the seafront and a lot of shop windows were decorated in North Street, Brighton. A big department store did their windows out in the theme which we went to look at… they were worth having a look, one of them had a model of the Coronation coach.” Ron Cook, Lewes “We hung two large red white and blue balls in our porch, made of crepe paper, and two banners with God Save the Queen in our windows, and Mummy made a crown, and we put it in the window on black velvet cushion... and it looked very nice indeed and we made sure that it was all undercover in case it rained.” Frances Lloyd, Eastbourne Street decorations in London, travel guide and approved souvenir programme
Deborah Bedford with her treasured Coronation Coach and the Coronation mug her mother bought from a doorstep seller
“My father was a real royalist and he put red, white and blue crepe paper between the gate with a crown in the middle which looked very good. I can remember going to see the Coronation film and we all had Coronation mugs from the school.” Dorothy Sparks, Uckfield “Out of a little spare money I’d bought some material and made some bunting which was hung between our house and the house next door, and the wind just blew it all away!” Georgina Sealey, Uckfield “I remember my mother buying something from someone who came to the front door and giving it to me straight away and that was unusual because my mother never bought me anything and it was a Coronation mug and a silver coach with horses, beautifully made and it was my most precious, precious possession.” Deborah Bedford, Deputy Lieutenant of East Sussex, Ringmer “In school we were presented with a book from the Mayor of Brighton called ‘Elizabeth Our Queen’ by Richard Dimbleby, with your name inscribed on the label inside it.” Ron Cook, Lewes
In the foreword, of the book, the Mayor of Brighton stated, “I hope this souvenir will inspire you to follow a splendid example of service and help you to understand more fully our national heritage.” It must have inspired Ron as he went on to serve with East Sussex Fire Brigade for 30 years, became Mayor of Lewes in 1988 and again in 1994 and was awarded the MBE for services to East Sussex Fire Brigade in 1991. ‘Elizabeth Our Queen’ was presented to Ron Cook at school, the opening inscription and his MBE for services to East Sussex Fire Brigade 6
JUBILATIONS — 1953 CORONATION
“I was excited for weeks beforehand. I’d got this scrapbook together and I started that some time before as a kind of school project, I think they mentioned it might be a nice thing to do, and I was the only one who took the ball and ran with it. I started collecting cuttings and things quite a long time before the day itself. I’m glad I kept the scrapbook, it’s an extraordinary thing to have, you know.” Frances Lloyd, Eastbourne Since Frances was interviewed she has kindly donated her precious scrapbook to the Mass Observation Unit.
Frances with her Coronation Scrapbook
“I saw an advert for a Coronation embroidery pattern in a Woman’s Own magazine which was four pence at the time. So I sent off for two and I made one for my mum and one for myself. I can’t remember how long it took to make it.” Shirley Rowledge, Eastbourne Since she took part in this project, Shirley has at long last had her beautiful embroidery framed!
“I used to do a lot of carpentry as a school boy, and I made a model of the Coronation coach, I think it was about two and a half feet long, and I was very privileged because there was a lovely flower shop in Berkeley Square in the centre of London, the best flower shop in London owned by a man called Moyses Stevens, and he put this model of the coach as the prize centrepiece in the main window of his shop in Berkeley Square all through the Coronation.” Mark Dury, Hadlow Down
Singing and Dancing
Another common theme across the county were events involving singing and dancing. Rotherfield possibly held the most unusual of these as they danced a 16th century Tudor Pavan dance along with community singing at the school and simultaneous dancing at the War Memorial Institute. In Lewes a Coronation ball was held in the Town Hall on Coronation day organised by the football supporters club, and the following evening an open air dance was held on Nevill Green. The Sussex Express reported that a Tudor Pavan was danced in Rotherfield on Coronation night 1953 CORONATION — JUBILATIONS
Mark Dury’s handmade Coronation Coach was on display in Moyses Stevens shop window 7
The Church
The Coronation service held on 2nd June 1953 was presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury. At the centre of the service was the Coronation Oath which was given to the Queen by Parliament on 4th November 1952 when she signed the Declaration before the Peers and Commons. Throughout the County, towns proclaimed Princess Elizabeth as Queen Elizabeth the Second. More than 2,000 people gathered outside Hove Town Hall for the reading of the Proclamation of the Accession by the Mayor. A crowd of several hundred gathered outside Hastings Town Hall and in Lewes all traffic was stopped through the County town to hear the Proclamation read twice in five minutes.
The Queen took the Coronation oath in front of 8,000 guests at Westminster Abbey
The Coronation was seen primarily as a religious occasion and most celebrations across East Sussex marked this by holding a united church service. In Rotherfield the church was floodlit for the week with a special beacon light on the steeple. In Wadhurst the local gardening association took on the decoration of the church with red white and blue flowers. In the larger villages and towns open air services were held and these were attended by many organisations and representatives from the Services. A special Brighton area Youth Organisations Parade was held with a march to the Royal Pavilion, saluting the Mayor en route and ending with a church service at the Brighton Dome. In Crowborough an open air service A cutting from the Evening Argus took place for 1,000 locals who were joined by organisations and troops from Warren Camp. A march to it from Crowborough Cross led by Crowborough Silver Band included the Royal Signals, British Legion, Home Guard, British Red Cross Society, and Cadets, Scouts, Guides, Cubs, Brownies and the Boys Brigade. Local choirs led the singing. In Lewes Coronation week began with a Drumhead Service (United service) held at the Dripping Pan, attended by the Mayor along with Service Representatives. The address given by the Bishop of Lewes was heard by over 1,400 people. This solemn and respectful tone set by the church services was also echoed by ‘A Loyal Address’ from the mayor of Lewes and corporation on behalf of the inhabitants which was conveyed to the Queen on Monday 1st June, the eve of the Coronation. The address was reported to recall the honour of Princess Elizabeth’s visit to the town in 1951.
The Sussex Express reported on the drumhead service held in Lewes 8
“I thought of the Coronation as a religious event and I remember going to church after the King died and everybody actually knelt and sang the National Anthem as a prayer which it really is isn’t it?” Betty Atkin, Lewes JUBILATIONS — 1953 CORONATION
Timeline
Fashion During the Queen’s reign, fashion has gone through many and various developments and some styles have repeated themselves over the years. In 1953, fashion was all about elegance and femininity. Skirts got shorter and the most popular fashions were the semi fitted suit with narrow jacket and slightly indented waist as well as the form fitting sheath dress. Hats were worn by women hugging the crown or the back of the head.
1953
Sir Winston Churchill was still in power and would remain Prime Minister of Britain until 1955. Sweet rationing came to an end in 1953 but clothes and food were still rationed. Above, Fashion related to the Coronation Below, more typical 1950’s ladies attire
The Queen’s Coronation had a big influence on fashion and was responsible for the return of bright colour after the drabness of the war years. “I think it was such a grey time, I just remember clothes and suddenly there was this lovely jolly time and people dressed up and bright colours.” Jane Booth Clibborn, East Dean
For most ordinary people, catwalk fashion did not feature very much in their lives. New clothes were very difficult to come by in 1953 and clothes rations were still in place. This came out repeatedly in how people in East Sussex remembered the Coronation and what they were wearing. “It wasn’t long after the war and there was still some rationing going on and clothes were difficult to come by. But nylon had just come out and we had nylon petticoats.” Mary Grant, Eastbourne “In 1953 we were a low income family with four young children, and fashion was not an issue at home, you just wore what you could acquire basically. My mother made my clothes, she knitted, she sewed and quite a lot of them would have been passed down from older cousins and re-made. In those days for many of us there just wasn’t the cash.” Janet Bridger, Lewes “Little girls didn’t wear trousers in those days, I never had a pair of trousers until I was around twelve. If I was being very smart, I would have a kilt and a red jumper on.” Dorothy Sparks, Uckfield “In those days, it was pretty well one on, one in the wash, you didn’t have a cupboard full of clothing like you do now.” Georgina Sealey, Uckfield Betty (in her Swagger coat) and husband John Atkins in the 1950’s 1953 CORONATION — JUBILATIONS
Churchill
The Coronation was the first public occasion which more people watched on television than listened to on the radio as around 20.4 million people watched the event, almost double the number who listened to it on the radio. At the time, there were only 2.7 million television sets in the existence in the UK, – an average of 7 people per set.
Everest
The ninth British attempt to climb Mount Everest was made by Sir Edmond Hilary and Sherpa Tenzig Norgay and the pair reached the summit on 29th May 1953 just days before the Queen’s Coronation.
Cecil B Demille’s ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ won the Best Picture Oscar. The 1950’s was a time of great change in music as traditional folk music and dance bands gave way to jazz and rock and roll. Frankie Laine’s ‘I believe’ was number one for 9 weeks in the charts during the Coronation period. In 1952 there were Frankie Laine only eight realms in the Commonwealth: the UK, Canada, Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, New Zealand and South Africa.
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The Silver Jubilee
Rod Stewart, No. 1
Bill Armiger, at 60, and (below) the poem he sent to the Queen
Piers Morgan (12 in 1977)
The Queen celebrated her first 25 years on the throne in 1977. A great deal had changed in the UK during the 25 years since the Coronation and 1970’s Britain saw a period of industrial unrest, unemployment and economic hard times. There were also the beginnings of dissent and anti-monarchist sentiment as the Sex Pistols released their single God Save the Queen in Jubilee week. However, contrary to popular belief, it never made it to number one as Rod Stewart’s rather more placid double-A side “I Don’t Want To Talk About It” / “First Cut Is The Deepest” retained its number one position for a fourth week. “I thought the 70s were the best decade really, even though ... I wasn’t politically minded then so ... your money went further. The cost of living wasn’t through the roof, like it is now. And, if you lost a job, you’d have another one within two days, a week, max.” Alan Noon, Hastings “If you go back to that time [1970s] we women who were married with children, we were stuck at home, so you were jolly glad to get out there and get involved in something a little more intelligent than wiping bottoms, you know. So it was easy to get people to help. Nowadays all the housewives are out at work, and they’ve got children and no time for anything else. It’s changed a lot.” Mary Parker, East Chiltington
Despite the economic uncertainty, the national mood was for the most part celebratory and an estimated 10 million people attended street parties up and down the country. East Sussex was no different and there were hundreds of street parties all over the County. The Silver Jubilee 1977 by Bill Armiger Let’s put (Great) back in Britain, this jubilee year of our Queen. Let it be the grandest happening the world has ever seen. Let us heed her Christmas message – in place of hatred, strive for peace. Let our leaders work together and may their wranglings cease. Let the Unions put away their prejudice and pride. Let our men work where they will, in harmony side by side. Let there be no more devolution talk at least for a time. Let the thistle, leek, shamrock and the rose all entwine. Let’s stop knocking ourselves telling the world we are so poor.
Let us stop borrowing and begging at our neighbour’s door. Let’s regain our self-respect, our faith, the will to work harder than before. Let the growl of the British bulldog and the lions roar. Tell the world we are not the little off shore island.
No, not anymore. When our Queen stands robed in all splendour at her Silver Jubilee, Let us be proud that we are British, for all the world to see. Let us thank God for a Queen so gracious and for her example fine. From the first year of her reign until the present time.
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“I was 12 years old when she celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1977. My parents ran a country pub in a small East Sussex village, and we were therefore the epicentre of the local party. I vividly remember the main street lined with bunting, Union Jack flags flickering everywhere, eating ice-cream and jelly until I was nearly sick, and soaking in the overwhelming atmosphere of joy that pervaded the day. It was the first time I really understood how important the Queen was to the fabric of British life. We all crowded round a couple of small TVs and cheered when she spoke. I’ve still got my Silver Jubilee crown somewhere, and the mug, T-shirt and flag.” Piers Morgan, Fletching
Although people were pre-occupied by national events and the economic downturn, they were pleased to have something to celebrate. A survey done by one of the writers for the Mass Observation Archive found that although the Silver Jubilee was not a major event in people’s lives in East Sussex, on the whole they were very much pro-monarchy and in favour of celebrating the occasion. In 1977, as in other Jubilee years, people felt that the queen was “a dedicated, serious, hardworking woman, with a keen sense of duty.” Some of this mood was captured in a poem by Bill Armiger, from East Dean. Bill sent the poem to the Queen and received a reply saying that she “had very much enjoyed reading it.”
JUBILATIONS — 1953 CORONATION
Memories of 1953
People in East Sussex were preparing to “turn back the clock” and to celebrate 1977 in a style which would rekindle memories of previous Royal occasions, such as the Coronation. In Hadlow Down for example, the villagers had a parish feast at the village hall, just as they had in 1953. Nearly every town and village in the County had festivities planned and there were many street parties all over East Sussex. In Seaford alone there were parties in Valley Drive, Tudor Close, Etherington Way, Stafford Road, Hythe Crescent and Albany Road.
The Sex Pistols released their single ‘God Save the Queen’ in Jubilee week but contrary to popular belief it never made it to number one
“We were living in Albany Road, Seaford and we held a very successful street party that brought all the neighbours together. Someone from the street dyed sheets in red and blue and we all made bunting... we had bunting galore!” Pippa Logan, Seaford “Our street party started around eleven and stopped about five for the kids, and then we all got sent indoors, and it was time for the adults’ street party. We had loads of food all lined up on the table, sandwiches, jelly and ice cream, and you just went and helped yourself to whatever you wanted. Everybody chipped in, one family made sandwiches, another sausage rolls and so on and there was a real community spirit, getting together. It was brilliant, I loved it but I felt sorry for one family that was in our street who kept themselves to themselves and they wouldn’t let their children join in. It’s a shame that it hasn’t happened as the jubilees have gone on. No one seems to be bothered nowadays and it’s a shame. That’s technology for you, its ruined life, in the sense that people don’t care, I’ll go on the computer instead of going out and getting involved with the community.” Diane Fox, Hastings
the theme of Unity
The theme of the Silver Jubilee was Unity and as in previous royal celebrations, there was a great emphasis on communities coming together to celebrate.
Britannia rules and a floral theme featured in the East Dean Silver Jubilee parade
There was a focus on activities for children and each child in East Sussex was given a Jubilee mug, medallion or token by which to remember the occasion. All the school children in Battle were treated to an “It’s a knock out” competition and picnic in the grounds of Battle Abbey while in East Hoathly, the children were invited to a sports and fancy dress competition and a children’s tea at the recreation ground. The celebrations in Hurst Green typified that of many communities, where activities were laid on for all the different age groups within the community. There was a sports competition for primary school children in the playing fields, a disco for the 12-18 year olds at the village hall and a tea party for the over 60’s, also at the village hall. Other events in Hurst Green included a parade of decorated floats and a tea party for 5-11 year olds.
Stoolball, a traditional East Sussex game was played at many Jubilee events
Crowborough, similarly had a range of events to celebrate the Jubilee so that groups of different ages and with different interests were all catered for, with a senior citizens party at Beacon School, a children’s day at Chapel Green and a junior disco at Beacon School. Traditional children’s party games at East Dean’s celebrations 1977 SILVER — JUBILATIONS
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“All the kids at the street party got a jubilee mug and we had another one specially made at a little pottery just for us.” Pippa Logan, Seaford “Being the 70’s, space hoppers had just come in so we had a space hopper race which was good fun.” Jane Booth-Clibborn, East Dean “Ever since she was a little girl, my daughter Mary was keen to enter into the village show and in the Silver Jubilee year they had a special class to make something, so she decided to make a jubilee doll. Our next door neighbour gave her the red white and blue material and the pattern, but Mary made the whole doll herself, and was very, very proud. It kept her busy forever, which was helpful because I had a little boy who was coming up for four and I was expecting my third baby.” Eva Oliver, East Dean
Pippa Logan and Silver Jubilee mugs
“They had this wooden dance floor and it was on a slope but the biggest trouble was, somebody thought it was a good idea to put French chalk down which you used to do. So after a few turns, everybody was sliding to the bottom and you had to grab hold of this pole to swing round to get back up to the top and everybody kept hurtling down to the bottom end of the marquee.” John Dann, East Dean
Food
Jane Booth-Clibborn and friends in a space hopper race at the Silver Jubilee celebrations in East Dean
By the 1970s the days of the small corner shops were in decline and the supermarkets were taking over with products from the big food companies, many of them American, finding their way onto the shelves. As the number of homes with freezers grew rapidly, frozen food became more widely eaten and convenience foods like sliced bread, vol-auvents, crisps, ready-made biscuits, cakes and Angel Delight made creating party food quick and simple. Brightly coloured plastic plates and cups had come onto the market, so it was possible to serve the party food without using glass or china. The most popular drinks were orange squash for the children and beer and Liebfraumilch or Babycham for the adults. “All the food was homemade party food like cakes, biscuits, sandwiches and jellies with a big centrepiece cake.” Pippa Logan, Seaford “I remember we had quiches, cocktail sausages and sandwiches as well as bits of cheese with little onions stuck on top which was popular at the time.” Betty Atkins, Lewes
Eva Oliver and the handmade doll her daughter entered into the village show 12
JUBILATIONS — 1977 SILVER
Dancers at East Dean’s celebrations
Cheese and onion on sticks and jelly (below) were popular party food
The peasant look by Yves Saint Laurent
Long flowing dresses at East Dean’s dance
Fashion
By 1977 and the time of the Silver Jubilee, rations were a thing of the past. The 1970’s had begun with the miniskirts and bell bottomed trousers which characterised the fashion of the 1960’s. Platform shoes had come in in 1971 and were still popular in 1977 and the late 1970’s saw the introduction of the “peasant look” by Yves St Laurent which involved off the shoulder blouses with laces and tiered, gathered skirts. Clothes were lose and flowing and one interviewee from East Dean remembered dancing at a Silver Jubilee party wearing “long flowing dresses”. “I thought the 70s were fantastic. I was a hippy with hair down to me waist and I wore loons, scruffy jeans, sandals no socks, afghan coat, headband, beads, and patchouli oil.” Alan Noon, Hastings By the mid seventies the most ordinary people were wearing two inch deep colourful platform shoes
Bonfires and Beacons
The Bonfire Societies again played a key role in the Silver Jubilee celebrations in East Sussex. In fact 500 Sussex bonfire enthusiasts, members of the Sussex Association of Bonfire Societies and Carnival Societies travelled to London on June 6th to lead a torchlight procession. Hastings was one of many towns and villages to have its Jubilee celebrations culminate in a Jubilee Gala night with dancing, bonfire and fireworks held at Alexandra Park. Lewes organised what it called “The Big Bonfire” on a similar model to its 5th November celebrations. There were street processions from every quarter of town with “the bonfire boys” leading processions from street parties, accompanied by bands to the main assembly point which was at White Lion Lane. Finally, there was a large fireworks display and the town’s official souvenir programme proclaimed: “no town in Britain has more experience of such events than Lewes – a colourful and exciting show is ensured!” 1977 SILVER — JUBILATIONS
Four Beacons in East Sussex were lit consecutively after the Queen lit the first beacon at Windsor at 10pm on 6th June 1977 13
The climax of the national celebrations was on 6th June 1977, when the Queen lit a bonfire beacon at Windsor which started a chain of beacons across the country. The Sussex sites of the Silver Jubilee were at Duncton Down, Ditchling, Beachy Head and Fairlight (Hastings). These were lit consecutively after the Queen put a flaming torch to the first beacon at 10pm. “And in the evening we had this dance and it was a very wild night. I mean there was a gale blowing, it wasn’t only the alcohol! And during the evening someone said that the beacon was going to be lit so we went out into this gale and went up to Beachy Head to watch the beacon being lit and then came back again and the dance continued. It was a very wild night!” Jane Booth-Clibborn, East Dean
Renowned for his amazing bonfire effigies constructed for Hastings Bonfire Society, Bill Wickings was asked by the Girl Guide Association to make large scale guide badges for their boat taking part in the river pageant. “I made some badges for the Guide Association and also a crown to go on the bow of the boat and we paraded up and down the Thames but you couldn’t see a thing because the weather was shocking.” Bill Wickings, Hastings
the church
During the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, church services were held to commemorate Girl Guide badges made for the river pageant The Queen’s ascension to the throne in February 1952 and to mark the beginning of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee year. In East Sussex, there was much activity in the form of concerts and flower festivals held in churches across the County. Top: Nina Booth-Clibborn in her fancy dress costume Above: Jane Booth-Clibborn
The Rector of Southover church, Lewes, at the time of the Silver Jubilee said “At the beginning of this month, our hearts will be full of gratitude to God for the twenty five years that the Queen has led our nation and we will be praying that God’s blessing and strength may continue to rest upon Her Majesty. At the time of her coronation, the Queen said, “there is no greater work for both Church and nation today than to build a Christian home.” Those words are even more important today than they were 25 years ago.”
Left: a newspaper lists the celebrations and beacons across Sussex 14
JUBILATIONS — 1977 SILVER
A nursery rhyme themed float in the East Dean Silver Jubilee Parade
Timeline
1977 Following a by-election defeat that left them with no overall majority, the Labour Government, led by Prime Minister, James Callaghan, agreed a lib-lab pact in order for him to remain in office.
James Callaghan
The first Apple computers went on sale and people were gradually abandoning their black and white TV’s in favour of colour television.
Imported Afghan coats were decorated and embroidered and bordered in fur Apple Computer
Rod Stewart’s double-A side “I Don’t Want To Talk About It” / “First Cut Is The Deepest” retained its number one position for four weeks during June 1977. The space shuttle Enterprise made its first test glide from the back of a Boeing 747. ‘Rocky’ picked up the Best Picture Oscar. Virginia Wade won the Wimbledon women’s singles title in the centenary year of the tournament.
The East Dean Silver Jubilee Committee with Jane Booth-Clibborn second from the right in the front row 1977 SILVER — JUBILATIONS
In her Silver Jubilee year, the Queen toured some Virginia Wade of the 36 Commonwealth countries including: Samoa, Tonga, the Fiji Islands, New Zealand, Australia, Tasmania, Papua New Guinea, Canada, and the West Indies. During the year, it was estimated that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh had travelled 56,000 miles. Royal Yacht Britannia
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The Golden Jubilee In 2002 the queen celebrated her Golden Jubilee – 50 years on the throne. Aged 76 she reduced the amount of international visits, but was still working long hours and 2002 proved to be a difficult year for her personally, when her sister Margaret died in February 2002 and then her mother, the Queen Mother, died 6 weeks later. It was therefore a time of intense grief for the Queen.
Seaford Silver Band play on Eastbourne bandstand on the day of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
In the years between the Silver Jubilee in 1977 and the Golden Jubilee in 2002, the Royal family encountered some difficult times. There had been huge press scrutiny of the marriage difficulties within the family and of the behaviour of some of the younger members of the Royal family. The death of Princess Diana in 1997 and the Queen’s response to her death brought further scrutiny and criticism and there were widespread predictions that the Jubilee would be a failure. The Guardian newspaper in particular argued that the British people were no longer interested in the Monarchy and would be apathetic about organising Jubilee events. Many people in East Sussex also worried that the personal tragedies the Queen had suffered as well as the changes in attitude to the monarchy would cast a shadow over the Jubilee celebrations. The Sussex Express reported a concern that the Golden Jubilee would “fail to capture the imagination of the British people.” A writer for the Mass Observation Archive living in the village of Plumpton in East Sussex echoed that concern and one writer said “I certainly feel that all the Queen’s problems with her family have caused some people to feel less inclined towards royalty”. Despite the worries, the Sussex Express reported that there were a great number of events in East Sussex. The newspaper reported that “the thousands of street parties and other events planned during the celebration period have confirmed her majesty’s place within the heart of the nation.” Top left: Newspaper cuttings from the Sussex Express reported that the country was united with parties. Top right: Pat Short. Left middle: fun and fancy dress on the Greensward at East Dean. Bottom: A full programme of 11 different events was organised for those in East Dean.
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JUBILATIONS — 1977 SILVER
“There was a much greater response and appreciation of the Queen and the celebration than many had expected as there had been a very bad period with the royal family and there was a growing sense of almost anti-royalism and in fact that the Golden Jubilee would not be celebrated very well at all. So the result of seeing all those people in the Mall and going up to Buckingham Palace, I think was quite surprising.” Pat Short, Seaford
Indeed, there were reports that sympathy for the Queen’s loss made people more willing to celebrate the Jubilee. David Vaughan was in charge of organising events in the village of Laughton in East Sussex and he incorporated a special church service for the Queen mother. He said on the
Party on the Greensward, East Dean
BBC news “the number of enquiries we’ve got since the passing of the Queen Mother has increased by 50%.” So, in spite of all the problems faced by the Royal family, the Queen’s popularity seemed undiminished. The main celebrations for the Golden Jubilee took place over the weekend of 1-4 June 2002 and nationally consisted of a big classical concert at Buckingham Palace on 2nd June and a pop concert on 3rd June which also celebrated 50 years of British music. On 4th June the Royal family attended the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s cathedral.
Food aplenty and winning entries in East Dean’s dog show
Street parties, fun and games
Once again, the people of East Sussex organised street parties to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee. Luckily the rain held off and more than a thousand people in Lewes took part in street parties on the bank holiday Monday. The biggest street party in Lewes was organised at the Lewes Arms pub, where more than 300 people turned out to listen to music from the 50’s and a couple of live bands. This was rivalled by a Chichester diocesan youth festival at Plumpton Racecourse which planned the biggest street party in Sussex, hoping for more than 500 attendees. “We had banners around the outside of the house, bunting. I think I made my own bunting with scraps of material that I could find. We’ve got a Union Jack that we always hang out of the front window whenever we have a celebration and it hangs down over the front door. We sang the national anthem and other great British tunes, prom type tunes and blasted music out across the village, and we were waving flags and having a good sing song.” Lydia Tyler, Blackboys 2002 GOLDEN — JUBILATIONS
This raised analemmatic sundial at Bexhill was presented jointly by the Rotary Clubs of Bexhill and Senlac to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee 17
“I organised a joint tea party for the primary school and the playgroup in the playground of Blackboys Primary School. My daughter was two and she had her photo taken as a princess!” Suzanne Hammond, Blackboys
East Dean and Friston, known as the village “that loves to party” put on 11 events to mark the Golden Jubilee. The week-long celebration started with a cocktail party at Friston Place and went on to include a Village Fete, two concerts, a church service, a carnival, a play performed by the East Dean Players, a barn dance, a stool ball competition, a disco and a grand dinner dance at the village hall.
Household pets in the dog show at East Dean
“I was asked to form a Golden Jubilee celebration committee on behalf of the Parish Council and we had 27 members from all the different organisations in the village and it was a very cohesive, hardworking team. We had 11 events over a period of a week including a cocktail party, children’s races on the Greensward, and a grand dinner and we celebrated in fine style. Peter Hobbs, East Dean and Friston Peter Hobbs
There was a dog show on the recreation ground and you’ve never seen anything like it, it was run like a proper dog show and there were all these people who’d never shown dogs in all their lives, just took along their household pets and on the whole they were well behaved but there were one or two accidents and it was absolutely hilarious.” Eva Oliver, East Dean and Friston
The 2nd Lewes Brownies held a Jubilee party on the bank holiday Monday for the elderly residents of Newton Road. The Brownies decided to invite the Queen to their party and although she declined to attend, the girls were apparently thrilled to receive correspondence from Buckingham Palace.
The Sussex Express reported a great number of celebration events in East Sussex
“You are always reminded of events in a town like Lewes because every event will be noted by the bonfire societies. So at all the jubilees there are firework displays and cannons going off and so forth.” Ron Cook, Lewes
The Laughton Show, which had a special Golden Jubilee theme, was held over the four day long weekend and involved over a thousand exhibitors. There was a special service to commemorate 50 years of the Queen’s reign and the Eastbourne Scottish pipe band marched into the arena playing some of her favourite music.
Ron Cook
In East Chiltington the celebrations started with a church service followed by an opening ceremony performed by May French, the oldest person in the village. Amongst other activities there was a treasure hunt with a specially designed map. Left, a Jubilee Garden created in June 2002 by Seaford Town Council
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JUBILATIONS — 1977 SILVER
Men dressed as hobby horses in Postilian’s uniform pulled a replica golden coach at the Hastings Old Town carnival
Timeline
2002 Tony Blair, Labour’s longest serving Prime Minister was in power. Born in 1953, he was the first Prime Minister to have been born during the Queen’s reign, a month before the Coronation. The ex-currencies of all euro-using nations ceased to be legal tender in the European Union.
Queen and Duke of Edinburgh look alikes together with maids, butlers and even the corgies enjoyed playing a royal part in the parade
Princess Margaret died in February 2002 and just months later, her mother, the Queen Mother died in April aged 101. Princess Margaret
The number of television sets overtook the number of people in the UK with flat screen TVs emerging as the most popular choice. Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo around the world nonstop in a balloon. Will Young, winner of the inaugural reality TV series, ‘Pop Idol’, had a number one hit with ‘Light my fire’ in June 2002.
Steve Fossett
‘A Beautiful Mind’ picked up four Oscars including Best Picture.
Bill Wicking helped to make a magnificent golden coach which took centre stage in the Hastings Old Town carnival parade 2002 GOLDEN — JUBILATIONS
Since it was launched to mark the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002, The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service has been awarded to over 750 voluntary organisations across the UK. Membership of the Commonwealth had increased to include 55 member countries.
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“Well I was the poor schmuck who was asked to come and run the games and I remember I did dress up because I do like dressing up and all the children were sitting at very long tables with wonderful food and every child was given an East Chiltington mug, which they all loved and they loved their tea. And then we did games; running races and everything like that but when you imagine, you’ve got a whole village there and when you don’t have megaphones, we just shouted out very loud! But it was a lovely, lovely day and in a way, to me at the time who had only been in the village for a few years, it was like, my word, this is a phenomenal community and what’s interesting is over the last 15 years, the community’s got stronger and stronger here in terms of people doing just the most amazing and wonderful things.” Stephen Israel, East Chiltington
In Forest Row there was a big celebration for Stephen Israel the Golden Jubilee including a parade through the town, a quiz, a dance and a dinner in a large marquee where diners booked a table and took their own food and drink. “Forest Row’s a very diverse community and things that are organised that can bring the whole community together are very good. There was a real effort to involve everyone at the Golden and I think it’s carried on since then. One of the nice things about the dinner was that everybody took different things (we took chicken and lots of white wine) and we all shared.” Ruth Steed, Forest Row The Forest Row garden
“It’s well used, the playgroup use it, the school come along and do sketching, there’s a t’ai chi class that use it on a Monday night if the weather’s good. Annually we’ve had a Parkinson’s tea party when between 50 and 80 people come. The Thursday Club use it for their barbecues, cyclists stopping by and people generally in the village use it if they want a bit of peace and quiet.” Lynn Smith, Forest Row
Used to making all manner of effigies for the Hastings Bonfire Society, Bill Wicking was called upon to help make a magnificent carnival float in the form of the Queen’s golden coach which took centre place in the Hastings Old Town carnival parade. “We produced a golden coach, more or less a scale model of the Queen’s golden coach and had men dressed as hobby horses all in the Postilian’s uniform and took part in the old town carnival. This was done for the boat club and we had the complete royal entourage for the golden coach. We had the maids, the butlers, the corgies, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in the coach plus a few soldiers as well and it looked quite impressive.” Bill Wicking, Hastings
Legacies
Malcolm Tegg on the steps of St Paul’s In 2002, Mick Smith, a resident of Forest Row, Cathedral where he attended the decided to apply for a ‘Create It’ grant from the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Service in formal dress and decorations which were the charity, Parkinson’s UK, to design and create a order of the day. The invitation was to garden for use by the whole community. He was him only, so his wife was in the crowd! successful in achieving an award of £5,000 which he used to turn a disused piece of land adjacent to the village Community Centre into a beautiful garden. The garden was opened in 2003 and named the ‘Create It Jubilee Garden’. Left: creepy crawlies weren’t forgottten in the Forest Row garden — bug hotel! 20
JUBILATIONS — 2002 GOLDEN
The Diamond Jubilee Apart from Queen Victoria who celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 1897, Queen Elizabeth II is only the second monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee. The Diamond Jubilee in 2012 coincided with Britain hosting the Olympics, and a special extra bank holiday Tuesday made for a memorable extended holiday weekend from 2nd to the 5th June. A new word ‘Jubilympics’ was even coined to cover both events. There seems to have been widespread admiration for the Queen’s long service, and at 86 years old she was still working hard. The BBC’s royal correspondent Daniela Relph commented “I have spoken to many people over the past few days about how they view the Queen. Some have been royalists, some far from it. But nearly all have held the Queen in high regard.”
A new word, ‘Jubilympics’, was coined to cover both the Olympics and the Jubilee. Below left: An anti-monarchy demonstration
Celebrations in London were focussed on a river pageant held on the Thames for the Queen, with 1,000 boats assembled from across the UK and around the world. A fishing boat from Hastings and a new lifeboat from Eastbourne both travelled up to join in. It was more commonplace for people to watch the event on television at home, rather than communally, although in Eastbourne the London events were broadcast on a big screen.
Republicanism
Dissent was possibly more in evidence than at the other jubilees as an anti-monarchy demonstration was staged ahead of the river pageant by the campaign group Republic, whose placards read ‘citizen not subject’ and ‘democracy not monarchy’. Online forums and blogs such as Brighton based ‘Kemptown Ben’, also provided a more widely used vehicle for dissenting voices and debate than during previous jubilees.
Richard Comotto
Above right: a group in Lewes held a ‘Not the Jubilee’ bike ride as an alternative to what they described as the ‘queenfest’.
“ I have a couple of friends who are sworn Republicans who wouldn’t come to the party, but then I have friends who are Republicans who came to the street party because it was a street party and there was no antagonism about it.” Richard Comotto Lighting the beacon at Hastings
Across the UK, over 3000 beacons were lit, and nearly 100 of these were in East Sussex towns and villages from Crowborough in the North of the County to Brighton and all along the South Coast to Winchelsea in the East. In East Hoathly, a 30ft wooden sculpture of Britannia complete with trident, shield and helmet was set ablaze. It took three weeks and three lorry loads of scrap wood to make the female warrior before it was burned to the ground. At the lighting of the Alfriston and Berwick beacon, Michael Ann, OBE, DL said in his speech, “Our Queen has reigned throughout some of the most profound and breathtaking changes in our history, so it is absolutely right that her achievements, her hard work and dedication be celebrated by all of us, by once again lighting beacons.” 2012 DIAMOND — JUBILATIONS
Ron Hill Photography
Bonfires and Beacons
Setting up and lighting the beacon at Uckfield 21
“The beacon went and it went, and it went so much that it looked like a shooting star landing on the hill. It glowed white hot, it looked just like a comet coming across the hill.” Bill Wicking, Hastings “We had applied to become an official beacon site. The Council’s ground staff built the base and we were given an exact time to light the beacon to fit in with the other beacons and we could see the beacons being lit at Lewes and Newhaven.” Ian Smith, Uckfield “It was lit to a countdown and the crowd were very excited. It was a ‘people’s celebration’, a one off special thing and I think we were lucky to be involved in the heart of it, and I will remember it for the rest of my life.” John Carvey, Uckfield
A 30ft wooden sculpture of Britannia was set ablaze at East Hoathly
“I think there were about two and a half thousand people, and it got dark and there were pretty lights everywhere, and then the beacon was lit and you could see for miles, the other beacons that were lit as well. It was very moving actually, yes, very moving.” Sue Daniel, Uckfield
The Hastings bonfire effigy of a Jubilee champagne bottle complete with firework fizz!
“Seeing that the Diamond Jubilee was such an important occasion, we decided that we’d dispense with the political angles. I am a bit notorious for doing everything on a very big scale and the bonfire boys were in the region of 12 foot high. They all had to be produced with ply backing, caning and wire netted, and many, many coats of papier mache so you can imagine the quantity of paper involved and the tireless work that the effigy team put in, day after day.” Bill Wicking, Hastings
Green projects
The Woodland Trust Jubilee Woods initiative to plant six million trees by the end of 2012 included planting single trees in back gardens as well as new Jubilee woods. In East Sussex one of the more unusual commemorations also involved trees when in Firle a wood on the Downs was cut to create a giant E, echoing the V of trees created at Streat to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897. Other green projects included planting trees in Hadlow Down, a new rose garden in Hailsham and a wildflower garden in Battle. Above, The Horam Allotment Society was given some ground by the Jubilee Committee and in return they donated a Jubilee Oak which was planted by the Lord Lieutenant using a spade which the village has kept in the community centre. The Diamond Jubilee Community Rose Garden in Hailsham was officially opened by Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Peter Field, where he spoke to Cadets and Staff from 249 Squadron who had helped to prepare the garden. 22
Left, Children from St Mark’s School helped to plant a new Oak tree in Hadlow Down to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
JUBILATIONS — 2012 DIAMOND
Ron Hill Photography
Firework displays also took place across the County and Eastbourne hosted a magnificent musical Diamond Jubilee firework display on the beach. In Uckfield, a plethora of fireworks followed the lighting of the beacon and in Hastings a 16 foot tall effigy of a Jubilee champagne bottle surrounded by ‘bonfire boys’ and canons was set fire to on the beach with fireworks exploading out of the neck of the bottle to represent champagne fizz!
Street parties, fun and games
Building on the already popular Big Lunch initiative, people were encouraged to share lunch with neighbours and friends as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebration and this led to lunches being organised across East Sussex such as one at Malling Church in Lewes. In East Sussex many town and parish councils organised events as well as individual local groups such as Nevill Juveniles Bonfire Society in Lewes who organised an ‘Extravanganza’ on the local green. One of the more unusual events was a Soap Box Derby organised by East Chiltington Parish Council. “We had the most extraordinary soap box derby and we thought maybe we’ll get three or four soap boxes but we must have had 20 odd, ranging from an RAF jet plane which as it went down the hill you pulled a thing and smoke came out the back, to a 22 foot monstrosity with a bath at the front and a bath at the back, full of water, which must have weighed half a ton. I cheated because I didn’t have time to make anything and so our local sculptor made mine in the shape of horse. It was one of the most extraordinary things. Everyone dressed up and we must have had at least 200 people watching. It was absolutely phenomenal. But we won’t talk about the health and safety issue!” Stephen Israel, East Chiltington “It was supposed to be for children but quite honestly it was all men. And they built these go-karts, and there they were, crashing down the road totally out of control, and I’ve never seen anything like it at any other time.” Mary Parker, East Chiltington
Street parties were also a feature with eighty street parties held across the County. There was a sense that street parties may have been more difficult to organise than in the past due to ‘red tape’. Wealden District Council countered this perception by being very encouraging, with the chair of the council commenting “I hope that many Wealden neighbours will take this opportunity to get together to celebrate this historic and happy event with fun and friendship. This really is a once-in-a-lifetime event.” In Brighton however, the City Council urged people to apply to hold a street party yet introduced a condition that a signed petition had to be produced to demonstrate that the majority of homes and businesses in the street supported it.
Soap Box Derby, East Chiltington
“Our street thought about putting together a party and we had lots of enthusiastic people who ventured forth to the Council and then sent notes round saying, I think it’s too difficult as we lived on a main road and trying to shut it off was going to cause so much red tape that we gave it up as a bad job.” Shauna Smith, Lewes
At Lewes Town Hall a big Strawberry tea brought youth groups, and older residents together. They were entertained by music from the Swingtime Sweethearts and the Royal British Legion trumpeter Heidi Watkins in the afternoon. In Winchelsea a committee of six people was elected to organise a street party to bring the whole community together and in Forest Row four days of events were arranged including a flower festival, talent contest, market, concert, dinner/dance, Sunday lunch on the Green, face painting, tea and cakes, children’s activities and an all-day jazz festival. Diamond Jubilee lunch at Malling Church, Lewes 2012 DIAMOND — JUBILATIONS
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“There was joy and enjoyment from everybody that there was this massive tent that they could go into when they wanted and dip in and out of things. When you’ve got a village that comes together and they really enjoy something, it has a marvellous effect on the whole village.” Wendy Jones, Forest Row “We decided we’d put together a jazz festival with well-known jazz musicians from London and Brighton who gave up their time to come and play for the village from eleven in the morning until eleven at night.” Gary Wright, Forest Row “Normally in Winchelsea, they hold events on the cricket field but this time it was held on a road in the middle of the town. There were some local singers and a magician. Everybody brought their own food and there was a good turnout despite the weather.” Richard Comotto, Winchelsea
Jazz musicians played all day and late in to the evening at Forest Row
Forest Row
Ron Hill Photography
Some towns and villages held parades and in Lewes, the Rotary Club moved the date of the annual carnival so it could be part of the Jubilee celebrations. In Seaford a procession led from Salts recreation ground to the Martello Fields Winchelsea where there was a wide range of entertainments. In Uckfield, a crowd of over 2,000 people followed a parade which finished at the Victoria Pleasure Ground where the Uckfield Singers entertained the crowd with patriotic songs. “We sang Sussex By the Sea which people really like. I think we had to sing that twice actually, and Rule Britannia, Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory, all the standards, and I think in the end we sang God save the Queen.” Sue Daniel, Uckfield
The Uckfield Singers Ron Hill Photography
Living up to its reputation as the village that ‘loves to party’, it was no surprise that East Dean and Friston organised a plethora of events to mark the Diamond Jubilee which included, a school reunion, a cocktail party, a stoolball match, a family fun afternoon complete with dog show, wellie boot throwing competition, three-legged race, roll the barrel and fancy dress along with church services, a Big Jubilee Lunch on the Greensward, performances from East Dean Players, and a grand draw! In Horam, ahead of the main events, school children painted a giant Union Jack flag onto the recreation ground and the following day, the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex opened the celebrations which included a gun carriage competition. There was a full weekend of events and the profits made were donated to the Scouts and The Princes Trust.
A large crowd followed the Jubilee procession to Uckfield’s Victoria Pleasure Ground.
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“I would say that we have a sense of community here and that 60% of the people on the Jubilee Committee were also on other village organisation committees so we have a hard core of people who really put their back into doing things for the community.” Michael Bustard, Horam JUBILATIONS — 2012 DIAMOND
Timeline
2012 David Cameron was Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party and the Coalition Government had been in power for two years. Etchingham’s Jubilee medieval feast
In Etchingham, the Diamond Jubilee coincided with the 650th anniversary of the foundation of the church and a medieval feast was planned to celebrate both occasions at which people dressed in medieval costume and were entertained by a jester. The local MP presented jubilee mugs to all the children and the whole village had their photograph taken. “The Jubilee Feast was really quite something because it was suggested that the people who were coming to the feast might like to dress up in medieval costume, and a large number of village people did do that, so it really was quite a spectacular day” Ken Thomas, Etchingham
London Olympics
This was the year of the London Olympics and Great Britain won 65 medals (29 gold, 17 silver and 19 bronze) making it the most successful Olympics for the country since 1908.
By 2012, large screen T.V.s and home cinemas were commonplace in living rooms across Britain and whilst relatively expensive, 3D T.V. sets were also becoming popular.
All over the County schools embraced the Jubilee by making bunting, crowns and patriotic cakes and holding ‘Kings and Queens’ parties. At St Marks Church of England Primary School in Hadlow Down, they held a Street party with a juggler and conjuror who The jester holds court at Etchingham’s Jubilee Feast entertained them followed by a special tea with cakes and ice-cream. They wore red, white and blue clothes and all the children were presented with a souvenir teaspoon and a Diamond Jubilee edition of the New Testament. “We had a street party down our road and that was quite nice because we were all together and we were celebrating together.” Becky, St Marks Church of England Primary School, Hadlow Down “I remember at the street party, my favourite bit because all the table cloths were Union Jacks and it was really colourful and when we were eating we had music playing in the background and it was a really good atmosphere.” Harvey, St Marks Church of England Primary School, Hadlow Down “We had some games outside and I think we had quite a few masks of the Queen and we had to find them and the first person to find the most Queens at the end of the game won.” Poppy, St Marks Church of England Primary School, Hadlow Down
2012 DIAMOND — JUBILATIONS
The charts continued to be dominated by reality television stars such as Olly Murs and One Direction and in June 2012 Gary Barlow and the Commonwealth Band topped the charts with ‘sing’, written especially to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. By 2012 The Queen was Sovereign of 15 Commonwealth realms in addition to the UK, as well as being Head of the Commonwealth itself, which had 54 member countries. ‘The Artist’ won five Oscars including Best Picture.
The Artist
Physicists discovered a new subatomic particle named the Higgs Boson, the elusive last key to understanding why we have life and diversity in the universe. Computer simulation of a Higgs Bosun
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Food
By 2012, people were used to a great variety of foods from all over the world but there was still largely a predominance of traditional British party food on offer at a lot of celebrations but the barbecue was also prevalent. Schools across the UK entered a competition to “Cook for The Queen”, creating a special menu featuring recipes showcasing the best of British to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee. The menus of the four winning schools were served to The Queen and The Duchess of Cornwall at a reception at Buckingham Palace in June.
Pupils from Hadlow Down made bunting for their special party
Harvey’s Brewery in Lewes recreated a beer that was brewed for the Queen’s Coronation, in honour of her Diamond Jubilee. ‘Elizabethan Ale’ was devised in 1952 and was modelled on the dark barley wines prevalent at that time. In Forest Row, they had a special beer commissioned with its own label which people took home with them as souvenirs.
Children participate in a gun carriage competition at Horam.
“We had a seafood barbecue and the rain was pouring down and the field was muddy and he carried on barbecuing with lobster, crayfish and prawns and there was just an incredible smell coming from the Green. There was loads of food available and one of the restaurants gave a demonstration of how to cook a biryani on the bandstand. In the tent there were lots of coronation chicken sandwiches and beer, lots of beer! People brought their own food as well and we all mixed and matched our food so it became a sort of tapas to share which is great – it became very informal and nice.” Gary Wright, Forest Row “The food was amazing packed lunches at one end to candelabra at the other with barbecues in between.” Richard Comotto, Winchelsea
Specially commissioned beer from Forest Row, Harvey’s Elizabethan Ale and a seafood market at Forest Row
“There was a big, long row of tables and we all had a big picnic with sandwiches, fruit and cup cakes, some had an icing Union Jack on them and we had flags as well and we celebrated.” Poppy, St Marks Church of England Primary School, Hadlow Down A Union Jack flag painted onto Horam’s recreation ground by children.
In Uckfield, the popular farmers’ market took on a Jubilee theme and more people than anticipated attended the celebrations on the Victoria Pleasure ground and those in charge of the barbecue ran out of food. “We got to a stage when we were literally scraping the barbecue off and people were saying, just put it in a roll, we’ll have it!” Dee Johnson, Uckfield
Technology
Despite the weather, people found a way to enjoy their picnic.
By the time of the Golden and Diamond Jubilees, the number of television sets had overtaken the number of people in the UK. Indeed by 2012, people could choose to watch the Jubilee events on their tablet or mobile phone. This would have seemed unimaginably futuristic at the time of the Coronation. The Diamond Jubilee Concert was broadcast live on BBC One, and attracted a peak audience of 17 million in the UK. It was also available to listeners of BBC Radio 2 in the UK and enjoyed by millions around the world on TV.
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JUBILATIONS — 2012 DIAMOND
Ron Hill Photography
Although the changes in technology during the Queen’s reign have been nothing short of revolutionary, there was also a degree of continuity in the way people chose to come together with family and friends in order to share the events by watching on communal screens. “It was foul weather, but having the big screen, seeing them all sailing down the Thames and rowing was a really good idea because you could all go and sit in there and watch it.” Wendy Jones, Forest Row
Uckfield Farmers Market celebrate the Jubilee in style Ron Hill Photography
“My whole family came over, my two sisters and my brothers and we watched it on the big screen, the Jubilations and the boats came past.” Poppy, St Marks Church of England Primary School, Hadlow Down
People watched the events together on large screens
“With technology being so advanced, people find lots of ways to entertain themselves but they dumped all that, and they came out and went back to human interaction which is brilliant. Let’s just hope it’s not virtual celebrations in the future where they go on Facebook and they have a Jubilee sort of celebration!” Ian Smith, Uckfield “I watched the boat parade on T.V. and I thought it was terrible that Prince Phillip and the Queen had to stand for so long. She’s not much younger than me, and I couldn’t have stood like that.” Georgina Sealey, Uckfield
Folk enjoy a glass of bubbly at Ridgewood Village Hall celebrations in Uckfield
“In Eastbourne they put up an enormous screen in Hampden Park so people could go down there and watch it” Hilary Richards, Eastbourne
Ron Hill Photography
“Communication methods have change dramatically since 1953, if you look at the Coronation linking the country together, it was the first live outside broadcast on television that brought the country together and many people went into other people’s homes because not everyone had a TV. We didn’t have computers and everything else. If you needed to speak to someone you had to rely on them being somewhere where they could pick up a phone or go and see them face to face. That’s the change as we’ve moved on with technology as people do not feel it’s so important to do that because you can do it in other ways.” Chris Richards, Eastbourne There was a high standard of cakes in the competition at Horam
Fashion
By 2012 there were echoes of both the 1950s and the 1970s in fashion trends. Fifties style flared skirts made a reappearance as did 1970’s peasant style maxi skirts. One of the main trends for the new millennium was the appearance of sportswear on the catwalk. Despite the changes in fashion throughout the 60 years of the Queen’s reign, there was continuity at all the Jubilations as people chose to attend street parties and celebrations wearing red, white and blue or the ever popular fancy dress. Pupils at St Mark’s School, Hadlow Down, performed a special Jubilee dance
A patriotic partygoer at Ridgewood, Uckfield 2012 DIAMOND — JUBILATIONS
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Legacies
In Winchelsea, a committee set out to provide a service for a part of the community and they identified local youth as the object they should support. “We wanted to do a little bit more than plant a tree or put up a sign or a plaque or whatever people generally do and because it’s a very difficult time, particularly for the younger generation, we decided to support a local youth charity. So we commissioned a vocational training charity that specialises in media training to produce a film, “A year in the Life of Winchelsea”. This would provide us with a record of what had been done but also it was a way of focusing a fundraising effort on their behalf.” Richard Comotto, Winchelsea
A decommissioned telephone box in East Chiltington was put to good use in 2012 when the Parish Council raised the money to buy it, had it restored and turned it into a library which had a grand opening during the Jubilee celebrations. The box is well used by locals who lost their mobile library due to County Council cuts and residents borrow and leave books on an honesty basis. On the side of the box, an historical map of the village that was drawn up and presented to the villagers at the 2012 Jubilee celebrations is displayed. “The Jubilee map was produced especially for 2012 and it was beautifully drawn and painted with every little house miniaturised and the history, including the battle of Lewes as well and it’s absolutely beautiful.” Stephen Israel, East Chiltington
Top, the official presentation of East Chiltington’s Jubilee map drawn by Cllr. Marina Bury Above, The map and the telephone box library at East Chiltington
Ron Hill Photography
Street procession in Uckfield
To mark both the Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympic Games in 2012, Fields in Trust set up the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge. The scheme aimed to give protection in perpetuity to free outdoor recreational spaces. Two successfully designated spaces in East Sussex were the sports field in Fairwarp and Hartfield Square in Eastbourne. Each location was awarded a heraldic plaque including the royal coat of arms and an inscription. “Good memories are the legacy that people carry through, it’s that remembrance of coming together, of sharing something and that stays with you, you don’t lose that.” Wendy Jones, Forest Row
Stool ball, children’s farm and wellie boot throwing competition at East Dean 28
JUBILATIONS — 2012 DIAMOND
The Fields in Trust plaque at Hartfield Square, Eastbourne.
RNLI/Nigel Millard
Voices of Jubilation Eastbourne’s Tamar class lifeboat, ‘Diamond Jubilee’, was launched in 2012. She took part in the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant on the Thames.
With thanks to:
Captain Darren Coglan and his 2-man crew from Hastings, with The Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex ahead of their participation in the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant.
All the volunteers who gave their time to help with research and interviewing
The role of the Lieutenancy during the Diamond Jubilee year
“We were given a Power Point presentation from the Royal household and we went into about 85 schools to speak about the monarchy. I visited a lot of rural primary schools and it was very touching to see how much effort they had made with Union Jack bunting and homemade crowns and it was joyous actually, really joyous. I adapted the presentation with personal information about the Queen, Parliament, the history behind crowns and jewels, the corgies and royal weddings. In one school, whilst waiting for the children to assemble, I smiled at two little girls and one of them turned to the other and said, “the Queen has just smiled at me”, and so I thought, it’s just as well that I’m doing the presentation!” Deborah Bedford, Deputy Lieutenant of East Sussex, Ringmer
In 2012 Peter Field attended over 30 Diamond Jubilee events including the opening of the Diamond Jubilee Walk on Bexhill’s seafront which was carried out by the Earl and Countess of Wessex in the 60th year of Her Majesty’s reign.
Deborah Bedford
“People need a figure head of some sort to give a sense of occasion, a dignity, to an event and I think the Royal family fulfil that role extremely well.” Deborah Bedford, Deputy Lieutenant of East Sussex, Ringmer 2012 DIAMOND — JUBILATIONS
Chris Pascoe, Aspects Photography
Peter Field was appointed as Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex in 2008 to represent the Sovereign in East Sussex and to look after members of the Royal Family and Heads of State when they pay official visits to the County. He leads the 40 or so influential Deputy Lieutenants who support him in his busy unpaid role. The Diamond Jubilee Peter Field looks on as the Earl and Countess of Wessex reveal a plaque on Bexhill’s seafront to commemorate was seen as an opportunity to promote the opening of the Diamond Jubilee Walk the Queen and her work. There had been concern that some young school children didn’t know who the Queen was, and so the Royal household put together a presentation to be delivered in schools as part of the Citizenship curriculum. The presentation explained the background and history of the Queen and the constitutional monarchy, as well as its relevance to society and the local community.
All the interviewees Amicus Horizon and residents at Halton Heights, Glovers Court and Bevin Court Betsy Langford BHT Finding Futures East Sussex County Council East Sussex Records Office Hastings Bonfire Society Jenni Toomey at East Chiltington Parish Council Lloyd and Mary Brunt and East Dean and Friston Local History Group Michael Ann, OBE Paul Sparks, Heather Morris and members of Uckfield U3A Ray Whiteway Roberts Staff and pupils at St Marks C of E Primary School, Hadlow Down The Lieutenancy of East Sussex The Mass Observation Unit A special thank you to the Heritage Lottery Fund for making this project possible.
Credits: Jim Duncan Ron Hill Chris Pascoe, Aspects Photography Jonathan Bacon — booklet and posters www.bacondesign.co.uk Full details of others who have contributed to this project can be found on the accompanying film. © Sound Architect 2014
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