T The Coronation Day 1953

Pall Mall, 3 June 1953. I was 8 years old. As a family, we caught the train to London on the previous day with my 2 sisters, aged 10 & 5, with my Dad & Mum, who was 3 months pregnant with our next sister. It rained.

We "slept" overnight on the pavement. Every so often, an entertainer, like a clown on a unicycle, would pass by. It was a long, long night!

When the procession was about to begin, all of us children were ushered to the front of the crowd with our little Union Jacks. After about what seemed like a decade, a beautiful golden coach came by, escorted by lots of red soldiers. In the coach was a beautiful, glittering princess, like a scene from "Cinderella", waving to us. A sight I shall never forget.

Then an open coach, braving the rain, appeared. It contained Queen Salote of Tonga! She was smiley and waving to us all.

Then we had to get back on the train, go home and go to bed. And it was still daytime!