Mr Walker (Chapel Minister) offered to hold a morning service at the Methodist Chapel and Mr Pike offered to give Coronation Mugs to every school child age and under.

One of the main items under discussion was how were they going to pay for the “Big Day”.  A weekly “house to house” collection was proposed and carried unanimously and people were appointed as collectors.  A Midland Bank account was to be set up by Mr Parnham (a resident) who would act as treasurer with Miss Walker (a resident) as Secretary and Mr Pike as chairman.  As there were so many villagers interested in helping, three committees were formed: Coronation, Catering and Programme.

Planning continued at monthly meetings for an event like no other, the last one being the week before.  Eight names of girls, over the age of 14 years, had been received and the judging of the ‘Miss Coronation’ by Mr & Mrs Graham of Nassington would take place in the school playground at the last meeting.  So everything had been arranged, monies collected from the householders, food for the number of teas ordered and a schedule for the day’s celebration had been sorted.  Now they only had to wait and hope that the glorious weather they had in May would continue.

On Tuesday, 2^nd June, everybody woke up to a very dull and cloudy day with rain showers hovering around.  But with the British stiff upper lip the show went on – a grand parade led by the Coronation Queen in Mr Pike’s car started off at 2.30 from the school down to Hill Tree around the Green (at the junction of Nassington and Oundle Roads) and ending up in the Cricket Field (now Lindsey Close). There were fancy dress competitions, the Coronation Mugs to children under the age of 15 were distributed, sports for everyone, children and adults alike; afternoon tea for the children at the Methodist School room and Adults at the School.  The comic Cricket match with men playing against the women with a ‘soft’ ball started the evening entertainment, followed by the social at the school with community singing games and dancing.  The proceedings broke at 10.00pm., for the firework display in the school field and then back into the school to finish the evening off at 1.00am., with more dancing.

Three weeks later the committee gathered again to finalise the monies:  £74.7s 0d had been collected from the weekly collections but they had £4. 6s 1d over, so what were they to do with that amount?  It was unanimously agreed that 5s each be given to the two cleaners of the chapel and school and the remainder of the money would be distributed in the form of tea to the over 70’s in the village: complete rationing had not stopped so maybe tea was still a luxury item then.

Information taken from minute books that were held by the Parish Council.

2021