This programme for the parish of Woodley and Sandford lists the celebrations for the coronation. This was produced by the joint efforts of the Coronation Celebration Committee and the Coronation Hall Appeal Committee of Woodley and Sandford Parish Council. Preliminary events included Grand Dances held on 25 May, 29 May and 2 June 1953. On Coronation Sunday (31 May), special prayers were made at all the churches and halls in the Parish. There were various teas held throughout the week and a Grand Carnival Procession took place on 6 June followed by fireworks.

A note on the reverse of this photograph reads ‘Some scholars of Ellington School Maidenhead. Taken on the occasion of the State Entry into Windsor of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II & accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh. June 13th 1953. The Home Park was reserved for school children only’. 

Jacksons was a department store in Reading which opened in the nineteenth century and closed in 2013. In this photograph, we can see the store decorated to celebrate the Coronation in 1953.

The Coronation Medal was issued on 2 June 1953 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's ascension to the throne. It was issued as a souvenir to selected individuals throughout the Empire and Commonwealth including members of the armed forces, government ministers and public servants. William Albert Smallcombe (1892-1992), curator of Reading Museum 1926-1958, was honoured with a medal. This letter from Buckingham Palace accompanied it. Unfortunately we do not have the medal in our collections.

This is a scrapbook of photographs of coronation celebrations by St Mark's Hospital, Maidenhead, staff social club in 1953. The celebrations included children’s fancy dress, dancing, and outdoor games such as skittles.

On 2 June 1953 there were street parties and a Coronation Carnival held in Newbury. This is a napkin from one such event.

This is a coronation programme for celebrations held in Newbury. Events included a carnival, fireworks display, teas, street parties, fancy dress, decorated vehicles, dancing and games. The Chairman of the Local National Savings Committee offered a prize of a National Savings certificate for babies born in Newbury on Coronation Day. The Newbury and District Chamber of Commerce also organised a window dressing competition.

These tickets are for the Coronation Carnival Procession held in Newbury in 1953. The Newbury Weekly News reported that ‘it was a night to remember in Newbury’ and the ‘rain and cold north wind could not diminish the enthusiasm of the crowds which lined the route four or five deep’. The newspaper further notes that, ‘an American standing in the crowd said “Gee, you should be proud of your town”’.