2023 Coronation of King Charles III
2022 Proclamation of King Charles III
2022 Platinum (70) Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth
2012 Diamond (60) Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth
2022 Golden (50) Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth
1977 Diamond (25) Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth
1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
1945 VE day (Victory in Europe)
1902 Coronation of King Edward VII
1897 Diamond (60) Jubilee of Queen Victoria
1838 Coronation of Queen Victoria
Gwydir Street displays
My own window display
The post box on Riverside got crowned, so did the Dinky Door next to it!
This eco-friendly crown was outside Trinity, near the Isaac newton apple tree. Note the sly crack "To mark the Coronation of Trinity alumnus His Majesty King Charles III".
Gwydir Street did a dawn chorus in Mill Road cemetery. Quite a good turn-out for 5am! (The last photo proves we did get up at dawn.) Sorry about the poor quality of photos - the light was too low for my camera. We heard chiff chaff, stock dove, as well as blackbirds, robins, great tits, and LOTS of pigeons!
Gwydir Street planted a Ceanothus 'Concha' outside dales Brewery.
From the Cambridge Independent:
The city of Cambridge will celebrate the coronation of King Charles III with a celebration and pageant event this Sunday (May 7), inviting 2,000 guests from the city and surrounding region. Attendees will be selected by local charities working within the community. In particular, the organisers of the event will also be working closely with local charity Romsey Mill to invite 1,000 disadvantaged individuals and families from Cambridge city and surrounding areas to attend this day of celebration. The event will take place in the afternoon and will include a feast, pageant and entertainment. Attendees will each be assigned a table from which they will be able to view the festivities and enjoy a meal, provided by some of Cambridgeshire's finest producers... The Feast on the Piece will take place on Parker's Piece - the very location of the coronation feast held to honour the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1838 [see below]. Held 185 years later, the 2023 event will echo this grand moment in the city's history.
Other local street parties, one on St Matthews Piece, and one in Mackenzie Road.
Cambridge allows all points of view...
King Charles III was proclaimed king outside Cambridge Guildhall, next to the market, 11 September 2022. This was read by the High Sheriff. Then we all cried "God save the King" and sang the Natyional Anthem, trying to remember to alter all the pronouns....
Lighting the beacon on Castle Hill
Gwydir Street Community Tea 2022
A house in Gwydir Street wished to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth in 2012.
There was a street party as well. Click here for more photos.
Gwydir Street had a street party during Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee weekend (June 1st 2002). This is part of the picnic, outside the Cambridge Blue. Click here for more photos.
Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee was in 1977, as shown in this display in a sweet shop on Mill shop. The Union Jack was painted, but the centre display was entirely made of sweets. In Cambridge, the beacon was lit from the top of Castle Mound - the closest approach to a mountain locally. Ely had to light a rocket from the top of the cathedral! The pubs were open all day, a rare event then.
Cambridge Market Square with coronation decorations
Queen Elizabeth's coronation was in 1953, the year after her father, George VI, died. I was born in that year, which is why I have these souvenirs.
I found this in a charity shop in 2022.
Gwydir Street celebrating the end of war in Europe (VE Day) in 1945. You can see an air raid shelter in the background. This can also be seen on the page for no. 60.
From Mike Petty's column "Memories" (26 February 2003) in the Cambridge Evening News.: Dorothy Allen was born at number 44 in 1932 and remembers the street party held at the end of the war. She remembers there was a fancy dress competition; she went along dressed as the girl from the Mackintosh’s Toffee tin and won third prize in her category.
Click on photo for a larger version.
Devonshire Road's VE Party. Jim Wingett (ex 49 Devonshire Road) wrote to me saying "The vicar on the right of the photograph is the Reverend Rushton from St. Barnabas Chuch Mill Road. The girl to the left is Mary Gardener, next to her is her sister whose name I forget, then John Sprague, next and hidden from view was me. To the right is an unknown infant and next to him is my brother Michael who still lives in Cambridge. I believe the lady standing at the left was Mrs Zeobel who escaped from Nazi Germany. The second kid in from the right is my brother Michael worrying that there don't seem many buns for all those people."
This medallion was found in a garden shed in Gwydir Street. It commemorate the coronation of Edward VII 'King of Great Britain and Ireland, Emperor of India' in 1902. The other side says 'Borough of Cambridge - George Kett JP Mayor - Coronation Year' with the city coat of arms.
Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee was in 1897, seen at the top of this plaque on a wall in the old Pye site off Gwydir Street. It also mentions Canada, Australia, Africa, W.Indies, N-Zealand, Burmah, Gibralr, Malta, Cyprus, Egypt, Empress of India and Victoria 60 years Queen of Great Britain & Ireland. There is an identical wall plaque in Hough Leyland. Click on photo for larger version.
On the 28th of June, 1838, the Municipality of Cambridge organised one of the largest banquets ever prepared at Parker's Piece to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Victoria. The total number of participants was 32,000, with 15,000 diners and 17,000 spectators, at a time when the population of Cambridge was less than 30,000. The dinner itself - for the 'deserving poor' was free - but tickets were sold to the spectators. In total, the diners consumed 1,015 stone of meat, 72 lbs of mustard, 140lbs of salt, 125 gallons of pickles, 4,500 loaves of bread, 1,608 plum puddings of 6.5 lbs each, and 99 barrels of ale (3 pints per man, 1 pint per woman, and 1/2 a pint per child). Not only was it one of the largest banquets, but it was organised in just 13 days!
This information is taken from a display in the Hobb's Pavilion, during the 'Skipathon 2017' (a revivial of an ancient custom of skipping on Parker's Piece on Good Friday).
