top of page
Sharing our memories of Heald Green
Last Updated 19th Jan 2025
King Charles’ Coronation day May 6th 2023
By Helen Morgan
First Published on Facebook 06/05/2024
Last Updated 22/12/2024
How our village celebrated this momentous day in our country’s history.
The passing of Queen Elizabeth came as quite a shock. For anyone born after 1952 she was a constant in our lives. Then suddenly she became this rather frail old lady and was gone, having just celebrated her Platinum jubilee the same year. Prince Charles stepped forward for a seamless transition, after having been the longest serving heir apparent to the throne. He had been in the wings waiting for this day and that came on September 8th, 2022, when his beloved mummy died. On her death he became King and was formally proclaimed that 3 days later.
There was much to do for the nation to mourn our Queen before attention turned to Charles and his coronation day. That day was to be Saturday May 6th and an extra Bank Holiday was granted for Monday May 8th. Pubs, clubs and bars would be able to stay open for an extra 2 hours on the Saturday and Sunday. A big help out initiative was also planned for people to get involved with community projects.
The country geared itself up for a right royal knees up!! In Heald Green plans were drawn up for a village celebration on the village hall fields. Local residents applied for road closures to hold a street party. Others preferred to soak it all up at home and watch the pomp and pageantry unfold on the telly. Let’s face it this country does these sorts of occasions magnificently and this day was to prove no different.
Firstly, our lampposts were adorned with coronation plaques.
Fig. 1 Coronation road plaque
Click On Image To View
Then the posters went up for the celebrations on the field.
Fig. 2 Celebrations Poster
Ratepayers Association
Click On Image To View
Bunting and decorations started to appear on our houses and local buildings.
Fig. 3 Brown Lane Methodist Church. 3.5.2023
© H Morgan
Click On Image To View
Fig. 4 United Reformed Church, Long Lane. 7.5.2023
© H Morgan
Click On Image To View
Fig. 5 Bunting
© Cynthia Mellish
Click On Image To View
Fig. 6 House decorations
© Louise Golden
Click On Image To View
Fig. 7 Decoration
© Diane Mills
Click On Image To View
Fig. 8 Decorations
© Clare Norris-Clarson
Click On Image To View
Fig. 9 Decorations
© Louise Jackson
Click On Image To View
Fig. 10 Heald Green Library 6.5.2023
Click On Image To View
Fig. 11 House decorations
© Jamat Ali
Click On Image To View
Fig. 12 House decs 6.5.2023
© Carole McCann
Click On Image To View
Fig. 13 The Brew 5.5.2023
Click On Image To View
The super talented knitters of St Catherine’s craft group went all out to place fantastic, intricate works of art around the village. It became quite a quest and I hope I found them all!
Fig. 14 Ash Grove Queensway corner 3.5.2023
© H Morgan
Click On Image To View
Fig. 15 Christ Church shops 1.5.2023
© H Morgan
Click On Image To View
Fig. 16 Greenway Road 1.5.2023
© H Morgan
Click On Image To View
Fig. 17 Outwood Road near Drayton Drive 1.5.2023
© H Morgan
Click On Image To View
Fig. 18 Outwood Road shops
© H Morgan
Click On Image To View
Fig. 19 Wilmslow Road, Long Lane outside post office 1.5.2023
© H Morgan
Click On Image To View
Fig. 20 Finney Lane outside post office 30.4.2023
© H Morgan
Click On Image To View
Fig. 21 St Catherine's Coach 1.5.2023
© H Morgan
Click On Image To View
The toppers at St Catherine’s Church celebrated both royalty and key workers.
Fig. 22 St Catherine's 4.5.2023
© H Morgan
Click On Image To View
Fig. 23 St Catherine's 4.5.2023
© H Morgan
Click On Image To View
Fig. 24 St Catherine's 4.5.2023
© H Morgan
Click On Image To View
Coronation day arrived and unfortunately the only thing you cannot plan for is the weather!! However, our celebrations went on regardless with family, friends and even our pets got in on the act!
Fig. 25
© Rachell Lee Crew
Click On Image To View
Fig. 26
© Brian Tidman
Click On Image To View
As these three photos from Catherine Stuart show, the village hall playing fields soon became packed.
Fig. 27 Celebrations at Village Hall
© Catherine Stuart
Click On Image To View
Fig. 28 Celebrations at Village Hall
© Catherine Stuart
Click On Image To View
The ominous clouds did little to dampen spirits and people came prepared.
Fig. 29 Celebrations at Village Hall
© Catherine Stuart
Click On Image To View
Here are some more photos of the celebrations at the village hall taken by our residents.
Fig. 30 Celebrations at Village Hall
© Carole McCann
Click On Image To View
Fig. 33 Celebrations at Village Hall
Click On Image To View
Fig. 31 Celebrations at Village Hall
© Carole McCann
Click On Image To View
Fig. 32 Celebrations at Village Hall
Click On Image To View
Fig. 34 Celebrations at Village Hall
© Ratepayers Association
Click On Image To View
Fig. 35 Celebrations at Village Hall
© Claire Roscoe
Click On Image To View
Fig. 36 Celebrations at Village Hall
© Helen Wise
Click On Image To View
Fig. 37 Ratepayers and helpers at the celebrations at the Village Hall
© Ratepayers Association
Click On Image To View
Fig. 38 Celebrations at Village Hall
© Suzanne Hall Willans
Click On Image To View
Fig. 39 Celebrations at Village Hall
© Karen Edwards
Click On Image To View
Fig. 40 Celebrations at Village Hall
© Karen Edwards
Click On Image To View
On the television we were treated to all the extravagance that goes with such an historic event. You could not help but be moved by the effortless timing and precision of all the processions along with the glitz and the glamour!
Fig. 41 © Sky News
Click On Image To View
Fig. 42 © Sky News
Click On Image To View
Fig. 43 © Sky News
Click On Image To View
Fig. 44 © Sky News
Click On Image To View
Then there was the fact, that not only did we have a new King, but also a Queen.
Fig. 45 © BBC News
Click On Image To View
Fig. 46 © Sky News
Click On Image To View
Celebrating took place with family and friends at home, or with neighbours at street parties. The weather was far better on the Sunday.
Fig. 47 Oakdene Avenue street party © Nicola Ricci
Click On Image To View
Fig. 48 Fernlea celebrations © Denise Hardman
Click On Image To View
Fig. 49 Celebrations
© Rachell Lee Crew
Click On Image To View
Fig. 50 Celebrations
© Jen Elizabeth
Click On Image To View
Hilary Avenue had a street party.
Fig. 51 Hilary Avenue street party
© Louise Moore
Click On Image To View
Fig. 52 Hilary Avenue street party
© Louise Moore
Click On Image To View
Fig. 53 Hilary Avenue street party
© Louise Moore
Click On Image To View
Fig. 54 Hilary Avenue street party
© Claire Tomlinson
Click On Image To View
I spent the day on Queensway at my Auntie’s house, watching it on the telly with an afternoon tea.
Fig. 56 Afternoon tea at Auntie Mavis's house
© Helen Morgan
Click On Image To View
Fig. 55 Hilary Avenue street party
© Helen Wise
Click On Image To View
The best game must surely have been pin the ears on Charles during Diane’s party!
Fig. 57 Party game
© Diane Mills
Click On Image To View
Heald Green Social Club held an evening celebration.
Fig. 58 Heald Green Social Club
© Cynthia Mellish
Click On Image To View
Fig. 59 Heald Green Social Club
© Cynthia Mellish
Click On Image To View
Now of course not everyone is a royalist. It was pointed out that our celebrations were a bit muted, when you compare what took place at the Queen’s silver jubilee, for instance. Yes, I would agree with that. Time and our society have moved on. Do we all know our neighbours like we did back then? The thought of this country becoming a Republic rears its head every so often, as does how much the Royal family costs. The counter argument is how much tourism do they bring into the UK? Do we really want another ballot box to elect a President?
Recently, after the prostate problems Charles had, apparently many people looked at the prostate cancer websites for advice, so that can only be a good thing. After treatment for a different cancer, on 30th April 2024, Charles returned to his public duties by visiting cancer patients. He is now the patron for Cancer Research UK. Perhaps more people being aware that this dreadful disease can happen to anyone, be it Charles or Catherine, Princess of Wales, may save someone’s life.
In September 2024, the village did its bit, by hosting Heald Blue for the prostate cancer charity, to raise awareness that the men in our lives need to stay on the ball and get checked. This follows on from 2023’s superb fundraising for breast cancer when the village turned pink. The organisers behind this worked flat out to make this a huge week of fundraising. Together we can make a difference. Watch out for the posters advertising future events, there will be something for everyone, I am sure.
For me as an historian, Gillian’s comments summed up the day perfectly.
“I watched it live in New Zealand. I gave up at 12.30 am...missed the balcony wave and the Red Arrows. A beautiful service full of pomp and circumstance. Still reeling about having St Augustine’s Bible from the 6th century and that the gold carriage was made in the early 1700s, and that the Jubilee carriage had the crown ornament on the top made from the wood of HMS Victory and railings made from the Britannia. Stunning history everywhere from the ritual right down to what was worn. And seamlessly rehearsed. Marvellous!”
- Gillian Walsh Camilleri, Facebook 2024
Search Our Museum Library (Google Drive account users only)
Related Links
Timeline
Can You Help Us Improve The Museum?
-
Do you have any related personal memories, photos or documents that you can share with us on this topic?
-
Are any of our facts incorrect?
-
Contact us at healdgreenheritage@gmail.com, or via our Heald Green Heritage Facebook Page.
bottom of page