THIS week in Down Memory Lane we remember the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on June 2, 1953, and how Thurrock celebrated.

The weeks leading up to the coronation in the Grays & Tilbury Gazette (now the Thurrock Gazette) have increasing notices of coronation events, street parties, special train services on the day to London and local companies giving homage to the new Queen and trying to sell televisions!

Every parish and large housing estate formed Coronation Committees and organised celebration sports events (South Ockendon had an open air boxing match) fancy dress parades and local bands entertaining.

Televisions were brought in to community halls for old people to witness the coronation service and all had tea parties for children and dancing until midnight for adults.

Bulphan residents organised an evening barbecue, Chadwell put on a bonfire and firework display, the Woodside Estate in Little Thurrock gave out Coronation crowns (5 shillings – 25p today) to each child, Orsett distributed Coronation mugs to those under school age, and Thurrock Urban District Council organised Music for the People at Stanford Rec, Grays Beach and Tilbury Fort.

Stifford WI put on an impressive historical pageant on the village green, while Chadwell had a flower garden competition.

The week before, Thurrock Queens were chosen – Dawn Bassil was Miss Ockendon, Margery Clarke Miss Woodside, Edna Wood Miss North Stifford, Maureen Donavon Miss Linford, Sylvia Harris Miss Stanford, Pat Madden Miss Chadwell and Mary Gwinn Miss Horndon.

On Coronation Day, three babies were born at the Orsett Lodge Hospital, a girl for Rose Worsley and Joyce Evans and a boy to Gladys Templer. I wonder where you all are now?

On Sunday, religious services were held across Thurrock, Grays Parish Church for instance having a civic service at 11am.

Despite bad weather and some events being cancelled on the day, they were rerun in the following week.