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In the
summer of 1953 one Goldings boy; a member of the
pre-Services
Cadet force won a place
because in the words of Skip he was found to be the most keen Cadet.
Below is what
L/Cpl.
R.
Howard,
wrote for inclusion in our school magazine The Goldonian.
MY IMPRESSIONS
OF THE CORONATION
PROCESSION
I was
surprised
and pleased
to be
told
a week
before
the
Coronation
of the
Queen
that
I had
been
selected
to
be
one of
a
party
to
go
to London to
see
the
Coronation
procession.
On Monday
evening,
1st June,
I reported
to
the
A.C.F.
H.Q.
at
London.
Road Barracks,
where
I
stayed
the
night.
We
were
roused
at
15:00Hrs and
after
cleaning-up
and
having
breakfast
we
left
by
the
Cadet
Coach
and
arrived
in
London
at
18:00Hrs. Already
the
streets
were
filling
with people
and
we
were
escorted
on
foot
to
our
stand
at
the
Palace
end
of
the
Mall.
The
weather
was
poor
but
we
made
ourselves
as comfortable
as
possible
and
we
forgot
the
weather
in
watching
the
many
service
detachments
lining
the
Mall.
Every
party
was
getting
cheered
as
it
came
along.
The
time
soon
passed
and
eventually
there
was
a great
cheer
as
the first
of
the
Royal
procession
began
to
leave
the
Palace.
What
a
thrill
it
was
to
see
the
fine
bearing
of
the
mounted
escorts
and
the
marching
detachments.
The
Royal
Family
and
the
many
foreign
representatives
came
by
in their
carriages
and
each
got
a special
cheer.
At
last
the
golden
coach
with
the
Queen
and
the
Duke
of Edinburgh
came
out
of
the
Palace
Gates
and
my
ears
nearly
burst
with the
loud
cheering
which
greeted
Her
Majesty.
I
was
proud
to
be
British
and
a
member
of
the
pre-Services.
After
the
procession
had
passed
we
made
our
way
into
Green
Park
and there
listened
to
the
Coronation
ceremony
over
the
loud
speakers.
At 15:15Hrs we
were
back
in the
stands
to
see
the
Queen
return
to the
Palace.
In
spite
of
the
rain
it
was
a magnificent
sight
and
the
Queen
was
radiant.
I
was
especially
impressed
with
Sir
Winston
Churchill
smiling
and
giving
the
"V"
sign
and
with Queen
Salute
who
seemed
to
ignore
the
rain
and
smiled
and
waved
to
us.
After
the
processions
had
passed
there
was
a
rush
to
the
Palace
Gates
to
see
the
Queen
and
the
Royal
Family
who
came
out
on
to
the
balcony,
where
they
smiled
and
waved
repeatedly
to
.the
vast
crowds.
Eventually
we
made
our
way back
to
the
coach
and
I returned
with
unforgettable
memories
of
a wonderful
day.
L/Cpl.
R.
Howard,
No.
2 Company.
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