Compiled by: Patricia Robinson

The coronation in Sittingbourne was celebrated with a carnival and street parties.

Not all of the parties were held on the same day, and some had hot weather while others had to move inside because of the rain.

A heavy downpour forced the 80 children from the High Street and St Paul’s Street, Milton, to hold their tea in the Labour Hall on the day before the coronation.

On the day itself, Bapchild and Tonge showed the ceremony on a television set up in the school in the morning.

A fete was held at the cricket ground in the afternoon, at which children under five were presented with a mug. However, an illuminated water gala due to be held at Tonge pond in the evening had to be postponed to the Saturday because of bad weather.

I was five years old when the Queen was crowned. William Street, like most of the streets in the town had a party.

I have hazy memories of taking part in the fancy dress competition, dressed as a flower girl. I remember being taken to the house next door to ours, so that the elderly lady there could see my costume, as well as having to climb wooden steps up to a flat-bed lorry with the other children.

I don’t remember anything else, but I’m sure that there would have been food and entertainment.

Peter Mantle was 10 at the time, and his memories are much clearer.

His experience of taking part in the fancy dress competition held for the children of Chalkwell Road and Hythe Road was very different to mine.

Instead of being in the street it was held in a field and he was dressed as Sir Edmund Hillary, who had just climbed Mount Everest.

His costume consisted of a blue boiler suit, wellington boots that were several sizes too large, a thick grey woollen hat, a gas mask and a giant pair of mittens.

The whole lot was topped off with a hank of rope over one shoulder and a pickaxe.

His party was held on one of the hottest days of the year and during the parade, as the mask steamed up, he lost sight of the child in front.

The weight of the boots reduced him to a shuffle as he lumbered aimlessly towards the stream that ran along the bottom of the orchard. When he dropped the pickaxe he couldn’t bend his legs to pick it up.

Someone thrust the pickaxe back into his hand and turned him round, as he had drifted away from the rest of the contestants.

Finally, through the haze, he saw the arena ahead. Eventually, after being forced to parade again, a decision was made.

It was a split decision between Peter and a girl from Hythe Road dressed as Queen Elizabeth I.

Sadly Peter came second, and doesn’t remember getting a prize, although he does remember his mother cutting the cake.

More than 100 children attended the Charlotte Street party, which was opened by screen and stage star Tony Wright.

There was a tea and games, followed by a performance by ventriloquist Jimmy Stringfellow.

There should also have been a Punch and Judy show, but the entertainer had got the date wrong, so the children had to wait until the Thursday to see it, finishing up the Coronation cake as they did so.

A Punch and Judy show was, though, enjoyed by the 77 children at the Berry Street party.

They, and the 35 old-age pensioners, were also entertained by Lezzim the magician.

Later in the evening there was dancing, the music was provided by Mr Stickles and friends.

At many of the parties, children were given a gift or souvenir.

I don’t remember getting one, I do have a model of the Coronation Coach, although whether my mother bought it or I was given it I don’t know.

I do know that children who went to my school, Holy Trinity, did get gifts.

The older children were given spoons, engraved with the date, and others, like Valerie Hudson, who was 10 at the time, received a very special brooch which opened to show pictures of the Queen.