Old Ledbury - Royal Celebrations

Photographs are credited to the owners from the Old Ledbury Facebook Group and clippings to the local Ledbury Reporter newspaper

1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

On the 2nd June 1953, Ledbury celebrated the Coronation by holding an Ox Roast, Best Decorated Street Competition, Tea Parties, A Parade and a Fancy Dress Competition

Ox Roast

Photo courtesy of Daniel HERBERT, his grandfather is on the left, building the fire in the High St

Photo - Robert BARNES Collection RB1

Right hand side wheel, top, 2nd and 3rd looking back towards the Almshouses, is Granny Wyn CAUSIER with Grandad Fred

Left hand side wheel, top, Marion DAVIS looking away from camera talking to her mother Mrs DAVIS, Brenda DAVIS looking at them and cousin James SANDFORD looking at them. Possibly Elsie holding James

Behind the oil drum the lady in a head scarf and girl by her side is Mrs DAY and her daughter Pam, they lived in the Bridge Street

Photo - Liza Emily PHILLIPS Collection LEP1

Photo - Fiona PENWARNE Collection FP1

Photo - Fiona PENWARNE Collection FP2

Photo taken by Andy's father Jack

Photo - Andy TAYLOR Collection AT12

Photo taken by Andy's father Jack

Photo - Andy TAYLOR Collection AT13

Mr KINGTON basting the Ox

Photo - Robert BARNES Collection RB2

Photo - Kath CREW Collection KC3

Photo - Robert BARNES Collection RB9

Photo - Mike PAUL Collection MP13

Photo - Hilary JONES ( Williams ) Collection HW18

Rear of Churchills Yard the Ox's Head

Dennis CUMMINGS, George DAVIS, Tom DAVIS ( Butcher at Churchill's with the Ox Head ), Dennis EDGE, Audrey EDGE ( Davis ), Baby Denise EDGE

Photo Audrey EDGE ( Davis )Collection AE4

Jose CUMMINGS ( Davis ), George DAVIS, Tom DAVIS ( Butcher at Churchill's with the Ox Head ), Dennis EDGE, Audrey EDGE ( Davis ), Baby Denise EDGE

Photo Audrey EDGE ( Davis )Collection AE5

Churchills Butchers with the Ox

Audrey EDGE ( Davis ), George DAVIS, Dennis EDGE, Dennis CUMMINGS

Photo Audrey EDGE ( Davis )Collection AE6

Click on the photo to watch a video of the Ox Roast - runs for 26 mins and 37 secs

Video YouTube

Winners of the Best Dressed Street Competition

Church Street - Grandad, William BARNES, Cousin Betty, Gran Emily BARNES, nee PHILLIPS and big brother John

Photo - Robert BARNES Collection RB3

Church Street - decorations all hand made

Photo - Robert BARNES Collection RB4

Church Street - Unknown milkman on his rounds

Photo - Robert BARNES Collection RB5

Church Street - The winning decorations - on the left the Old Sgts House, The Prince Pub and British Legion Club

Photo - Robert BARNES Collection RB6

Church Street - Group Photo

Front row - Mrs BELCHER, Mrs STURGE, Mrs Phylis STURGE, Mrs SMITH ( cake shop )

Back row - Mrs FLETCHER, Ivy WINDMILL, Gwen TAYLOR

Photo - Robert BARNES Collection RB7

Church Street - Mrs WILLIAMS fruit and veg shop - Grand daughter Fiona PENWARNE remembers the coat of arms was made of very stiff cardboard

Photo - Robert BARNES Collection RB8

Church Street

Photo - Chip Andrew BRYON Collection CAB2

Church Street - Group photo

Back row - Mrs FLETCHER, Rose WALTERS, UNKNOWN, Mrs WINDMILL

Front row - unknown, Gertie STURGE, Pat BAKER, Gwen TAYLOR, Dos BAKER, Phylis STURGE, UNKNOWN, Mrs SMITH (cake shop ) Mrs BELCHER, children and dog no names

Photo - Wayne Sharper DAVIS Collection WSD1

Street and Tea Parties

Church Street - Police Station / Court Room Tea Party for the under 5's

From the left Mrs HICKEY with Patrick on her knee, Mrs BRACE (basher)

UNKNOWN, Mrs Gert STURGE ( Diane's mum ), Dos BAKER, UNKNOWN, Mrs FLETCHER, UNKNOWN, Gwen TAYLOR (bending over) with Pauline in front, Mrs NASH, Mrs WINDMILL, UNKNOWN

Back Row - UNKNOWN, Mrs Phylis STURGE ( Davids mum ), UNKNOWN

Photo - Pat HICKEY Collection PH5

Homend Crescent - Childrens Tea Party

Cutting Ledbury Reporter Newspaper Friday June 19 1953

Long Acres - Childrens Tea Party

Cutting Ledbury Reporter Newspaper Friday June 19 1953

Back Row - Mrs HANKINS, Mrs FLETCHER, Mrs Bella NEALE, Mrs NICHOLAS, Mrs Anne PEDLINGHAM, Mrs LEACH

Middle Row - Christine DAVIES, Sandra NEALE, Linda DAVIES, Jean GLADWIN, Rita DOWNING, UNKNOWN, David NEALE, Janet FLETCHER, Barbara WATKINS, Nova WOODHOUSE, Jean PEDLINGHAM, Grace GURNEY, Joan PEDLINGHAM, Gillian DAVIES, Ann EVANS, Phillip DOWNING, Keith DOWNING, Alan SMITH, Mark WOODHOUSE, Paul MORRIS

Front Row - Ivy JONES, Dylis JONES, Kathy EVANS, Marion FLETCHER, UNKNOWN, Kath WATERS, Sue SMITH, Dorothy RAPIER, Lorna JONES, Robin DAVIS, Colin DAVIS, John GURNEY, John MORRIS, Peter MORRIS, Raymond WOOD, John WATERS, Jimmy HABBITTS, Robin MORRIS, Miriam EVANS, Janet PEDLINGHAM

Photo Wayne Sharper DAVIS Collection WSD2

Photo Janet BETTISON ( Drew ) Collection JD1

Photo Janet BETTISON ( Drew ) Collection JD2

Parkway Tea Party

Children enjoying the tea provided for them on Saturday at Parkway Hall by the Parkway Coronation Committee, after the children of school age had been treated to an excursion by coach to Malvern Festival Theatre to see the Technicolour film ' A Queen is Crowned ' Mr H W G HAWKES was chairman of the committee

Clipping - Ledbury Reporter Friday June 26 1953

Coronation Ball HELLENS, Much Marcle

Floodlighted Masque And Cider From Fountain

Cutting Ledbury Reporter Newspaper June 19 1953

The Parade and Fancy Dress Competition

Pirate Ship - Eric WILLIAMS ( butcher with Churchill's for many years ) 3rd from right

Photo - Hilary JONES ( Williams ) Collection HW19

The Homend - Pirate Ship

Photo - Chip Andrew BRYON Collection CAB3

The Parade Ground- Opposite the Train station

Photo - Chip Andrew BRYON Collection CAB4

The Parade Ground - The BRYON family Pam, Jeff and Mandy in her pram

Photo - Chip Andrew BRYON Collection CAB5

Woolworths Staff - Dr Crock and his Crackpots

Cutting Ledbury Reporter Newspaper Friday June 12 1953

Ledbury St Michaels Girls Club - A Midsummer Nights Dream

Elaine MOSS, Wendy DANIELS, Jackie ASHWIN, Janet DAVIES ( Co-op in The Homend ), Joyce CALE ( disguised ), Margaret GOODWIN, Janet PEDLINGHAM

Cutting Ledbury Reporter Friday June 12 Newspaper 1953

D GITTINGS carrying Mrs Frequently Misfire, Mr Sprockett and Mr Walker in silk hat

Cutting Ledbury Reporter Newspaper Friday June 12 1953

Photo Pugsy POWELL Collection PP5

The Happiest Days Of Our Lives- Ledbury Preserves Ltd

Cutting Ledbury Reporter Newspaper Friday June 12 1953

The Archers - Customers of the Brewery Inn

Mr DREW as Jack Archer 1st left, Bunty JAMES with dog centre ( Daughter of landlady Ella )

Cutting Ledbury Reporter Newspaper Friday June 12 1953

Mr DREW as Jack Archer

Photo Janet BETTISON ( Drew ) Collection JD4

The Archers - Customers of the Brewery Inn

'The Bull' One of Bertie STEPHEN's photo's

Photo Jean MATTHEWS ( Stephens ) Collection JM1

Childrens fancy dress walking down the Homend towards the town

Behind the man in the front is Brenda's mum holding her hand, you can just see Brenda's leg

On the pavement to the left can you see a tall man with trilby holding hands with a little boy dressed as cowboy. That is my Uncle Fred SANDFORD and my cousin James. James should have been in Parade but he wouldn't do it. Never mind I made use of it in 1954 and dressed as cowboy then I made front page of Ledbury Reporter.

Also on the photo is Mrs PALMER Pats mum with headscarf on Mrs GREY with Angela

Photo Brenda HILL ( Davis ) Collection BRH15

Brenda HILL ( Davis ) and her big sister Marion. Brenda came third in the under 5's class and won 3/- ( 15p )

Photo Brenda HILL ( Davis ) Collection BRH6

Liz PAUL dressed for the Parade

Photo Elizabeth BRACE ( Paul ) Collection LB4

1977 Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

On the -- June 1977, Ledbury celebrated the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II by holding street parties and ... on the recration ground

Street Parties

Long Acres

Held on the green at the top of Longacres for Longacres, Queensway, Margaret Road and Barnetts Avenue

Recreation Ground

1981 Charles and Diana's Wedding

Street Parties

Oatleys Crescent

Ledbury Reporter

The Reporter now has Archive photographs for the years 2005 - 2009 which you can view and order. Select a year then make sure Ledbury is the keyword entered before pressing GO. I have spent many an hour in the Ledbury Library looking through the old Reporters which are on microfiche. Support this great local paper.