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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was crowned on Tuesday 2nd June 1953. Alfreton’s Coronation Committee organised a full week of celebrations, which were advertised in advance in local newspapers. The Ripley & Heanor News, published on 29th May 1953 ran the following advertisement:

 

ALFRETON CORONATION CELEBRATIONS

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

Sunday, May 31st -

• SPECIAL SERVICES (Parish Church). 
• United Free Churches – Coronation Services
• 7.45pm. Congregational Churches Alfreton.
• Massed United Choirs.

Monday June 1st -

• CORONATION BALL. Drill Hall, Alfreton 8.30pm to 1am. Dancing to Wylie Price’s Windsor Players

Tuesday, June 2nd – CORONATION DAY.

• 11 am. T.V. Broadcast of Coronation in Alfreton Parish Church
• FREE TEAS for Children at Sunday Schools
• Sports and Entertainments, Alfreton Welfare from 5.30pm

Wednesday, June 3rd –

• OPEN-AIR THEATRE. (Firs Grounds at 5pm “The Alfreton Pageant”)
• 5.30pm CRICKET MATCH, Watchorn Playing Fields
• 8.30 to 11.30pm OPEN-AIR DANCING on the small Bowling Green, Alfreton Welfare
• 10pm TRAMPS SUPPER, Alfreton Welfare. Seats around the Bonfire.

Thursday, June 4th –

• OPEN-AIR THEATRE. (Firs Grounds at 5pm “The Alfreton Pageant”)
• 5pm Bowls Tournament, Alfreton Welfare
• 6pm TREASURE HUNT in the town, Start from Council Offices.
• 8.30 to 11.30pm OPEN-AIR DANCING on the small Bowling Green, Alfreton Welfare.

Friday, June 5th -

• FREE CINEMA SHOWS.
• 2pm. For Old Age Pensioners at the Empire and Odeon Cinemas
• 5pm. FREE TEAS at Ebenezer, Watchorn and Congregational Schoolrooms followed by Entertainment by Concert Parties
• 6pm. BOWLS TOURNAMENT (continued).
• 7pm. MOTOR TREASURE HUNT. Start from the Market Place

Saturday, June 6th - CARNIVAL DAY.

• MONSTER PROCESSION AND GALA IN ALFRETON PARK. See separate advertisement The Biggest Event in Derbyshire.

Sunday June 7th - BAND CONCERT

• 7pm. On Alfreton Welfare Grounds - The Staveley Works Band

THE BIGGEST WEEK IN THE HISTORY OF ALFRETON

 

PHOTO: Coronation Day Childrens Party at the Labour Hall, Leabrooks, 1953

Many small villages relied on their larger neighbours to organise events for the Coronation. Somercotes Coronation Committee arranged a parade, led by the Salvation Army Band, and other entertainment throughout the day. The initial programme was published in the Derby Daily Telegraph on 8th April 1953: “THE route for a procession through Somercotes and Leabrooks on Coronation Day was decided at last night’s meeting of Somercotes and Leabrooks Coronation Celebrations Committee. The procession, including a fancy-dress parade, will start from the Recreation Ground headed by the Salvation Army Band, enter Nottingham-road and go through Coupland Place, Leamoor Avenue, Cemetery Road, Chapel Street, across to Charles Street, Quarry Road, Somercotes Hill and back to the Recreation Ground. Before the procession starts at 3 pm a service will be held on the Recreation Ground beginning at 2 pm. Tea will be served at 4 pm followed by sports for young and old people at 5 pm. Other entertainments will include items by the Salvation Army Band in the evening, bowls and tennis tournaments and a Coronation Dance at Leabrooks MW. The committee decided not to have a bonfire…”