Many readers’ recollections of the Queen’s Coronation remain vivid even though it happened 69 years ago this week.
To celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, the Watford Observer has again teamed up with its friends at Watford Museum to ask you to share your memories of the street parties and other celebrations that took place in the town on June 2, 1953 when the Queen was crowned.
We are grateful to those readers who have got in touch with their recollections and pictures, along with those who have also shared their memories of the Jubilee celebrations that have been held since.
If you wish to share your memories and pictures, you can do so using the link at the foot of this page.
Peter Wooton shared this picture on the Watford Observer’s nostalgia Facebook group ‘We grew up in Watford’ and said: "Grover Road street party for the Coronation in 1953. I'm in the white shirt with bow tie about fourth from the left with back towards the camera. Geoff Butterfield is on my right. Geoff was a very good foolballer. He was a striker for the Victoria (Boys) School team and was selected for a trial with Watford FC.”
Another picture of a Coronation street party, this time of Heysham Drive in South Oxhey was shared by Sue Lord.
Nicholas Perrett got in touch with this picture and certificate of his mother, Jane Perrett (nee Presland), who was crowned the Coronation Queen in Langleybury in 1953.
Fellow readers submitted these memories:
Community answers
Be part of our celebrations for Queen's Platinum Jubilee
"We have teamed up with Watford Museum to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and we'd love to see your photographs and share your memories with our readers. Any material you submit will be shared with the museum’s digital archive and may be published online and/or in print in the Watford Observer."
We asked for your responses - this is what you sent.
What are your memories of the Queen's Coronation and/or Jubilee(s) and how it was celebrated in Watford? (Please specify the occasion)My memories, well it's not exactly jubilee or to do with the but it was to do with the Queen Mother many years ago in 1965. The Queen Mother visited Watford and the parade came down Rickmansworth Road and I can vividly remember the soldiers fainting and collapsing in Cassiobury Park as it was a very hot day.
What are your memories of the Queen's Coronation and/or Jubilee(s) and how it was celebrated in Watford? (Please specify the occasion)These photos were taken at the coronation party in Liverpool Road in 1953. My mother, Sandra Langdale, is in the center of this photo dressed as a queen holding the orb and sceptre. My grandparents Edna and Jim are in the middle of the photo towards the back. They lived at number 73.
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Liverpool Road Coronation Party 1953 
Liverpool Road Coronation Party 1953 
Liverpool Road Coronation Party 1953 What are your memories of the Queen's Coronation and/or Jubilee(s) and how it was celebrated in Watford? (Please specify the occasion)From a letter found with these two photos sent to my Uncle - "Trevor Langdale, Here are some photos taken at the street party for the coronation, your sister Sandra is in the far right dressed as a queen next to Pam Stacy. My brother Gordon is the one with the real trumpet next to Janet Foster and Robert, David Abraham is in the big jacket, and Terry Cook sits behind my brother Ray at the football. Ray still lives in Liverpool Road in the Stacy's house opposite Cookies. Wouldn't it be nice to meet up with some of the old kids from Liverpool/Cardiff Road? regards Shirley Collins (Greenaway)"
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Liverpool Road 1953 
Liverpool Road 1953 What are your memories of the Queen's Coronation and/or Jubilee(s) and how it was celebrated in Watford? (Please specify the occasion)I remember the Queens Silver Jubilee in 1977. We were living in Leavesden Road in North Watford at the time. I attended Callowland Infants school which was opposite my house. I can recollect having some sort of celebration in the assembly hall and queuing up to receive our commemorative coins at home time. I was invited to the street party in Cecil Street because that’s where our back gate was. We had a fancy hat competition, I believe mine was constructed from red card with stickers depicting scenes from the nursery rhyme “Mary, Mary Quite Contrary”. I recall sitting at the table with my Nan and licking the back of the stickers to activate the glue. I didn’t win any prizes for this but some people’s creations were rather amazing. I know one girl had a giant dice on her head! We played games in what was then the Beulah Baptist Chapel. I think everything had been planned for outside but unfortunately rain put a stop to that. The tables and chairs were therefore set up in Findell’s garages. It was still fun but I do remember the smell of petrol putting me off the food as it made me feel a bit sick! I was also disappointed that we weren’t able to sit out in the road as that prospect had been particularly exciting. Unfortunately I have no photos of these events. I hope someone else does!
What are your memories of the Queen's Coronation and/or Jubilee(s) and how it was celebrated in Watford? (Please specify the occasion)I was seven years old and living in Estcourt Road when we celebrated the Queen's Coronation in St John’s Hall. I remember the girls each getting a bracelet and the boys a coin. There was lots of food and a net of balloons strung from the ceiling. At the end of the party when they were released, one of the balloons was huge! That one was given to me because I hadn’t long got out of hospital after contracting Polio. I am sitting third from the right, on the first row of chairs. My brother, Ernie and cousins Brenda and Barry are also in the photograph.
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Queen’s Coronation. St John’s Hall, Estcourt Road, Watford. What are your memories of the Queen's Coronation and/or Jubilee(s) and how it was celebrated in Watford? (Please specify the occasion)I organised a street party for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in Biddenham Turn, Garston. Even though it poured with rain, we kept calm and partied on and everyone had a fantastic time! Nobody cared about the wind and rain, we still had bunting, balloons and a barbecue! We had Guess the Weight of the Union Jack Cake, Pin the Crown on the Queen, Guess the Name of the Beefeater Bear, a tombola and karaoke. Everyone was sitting, standing and dancing in their front gardens and in the road and there was a wonderful atmosphere full of joy and laughter. We also held a raffle, which raised money for the Peace Hospice. Best of all, we had a brilliant community spirit. It was one of the best days of my life and I'm so glad we all made it happen. The memories will stay with me always.
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Jubilee Party ready outside my house in Biddenham Turn. 
A rainy but ready to party Biddenham Turn! 
A home-made history board about the Queen's official visit to open Parmiter's School in 1981, how Biddenham Turn got built in 1961 plus stories of various residents over the years and tales of royal visits to Watford. 
Guess the Name of the Beefeater Bear and Guess the Weight of the Union Jack Cake competitions! 
Literally singing in the rain! Me on the karaoke outside my home. 
My Mum, Pam Bell, and Curator & Heritage Manager of Watford Museum, Sarah Priestley (also one of my closest friends!) enjoying the party. What are your memories of the Queen's Coronation and/or Jubilee(s) and how it was celebrated in Watford? (Please specify the occasion)In 1953 I was a pupil at Callowland Girls' School. To celebrate the Coronation a fancy dress competition was held which I won dressed as a young Queen Victoria. The prize was a pop-up picture book of the Coronation. The prize should really have gone to my mother for her design and sewing skills! This photograph was taken by my father, Ernie Gettens, a keen photographer who worked at Odhams.
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Fancy Dress for Her Majesty's Coronation 1953. Be part of our celebrations for Queen's Platinum Jubilee
We have teamed up with Watford Museum to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and we'd love to see your photographs and share your memories with our readers. Any material you submit will be shared with the museum’s digital archive and may be published online and/or in print in the Watford Observer.
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