1953 Coronation Programme

1953 Coronation Programme

Mrs Moore has kindly passed us another old booklet. This one was produced in 1953 as a commemorative programme for Probus and Grampound villages to cover the celebrations for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2nd June 1953.

Some of our older readers may remember the coronation and have a tale to tell about what happened in Probus. Please do get in touch - we’d love to hear your stories.

We’ve reproduced two of the pages from the programme entitled ‘Picture of Today’ on pages 40 and 41. These pages are a fascinating snapshot of social history from that period, and one or two of our readers will no doubt recognise their names, or perhaps those of family members, friends or the other persons listed.

There is more in this programme that may be of interest to our readers, and we’ll try to cover this in a future edition. The original will be given to the Probus Historic Cornwall Society for safekeeping.

The programme’s introduction was dated 2nd June 1953. It is poignant to note that one of those mentioned, Major Johnnie Tresawna DSO, was recorded as being ‘on active service’ in Korea along with two other local men.

Major Tresawna, from Lamellyn Farm, had a distinguished Second World War record, and had volunteered to serve in Korea as a Company Commander with the 1st Bn the Durham Light Infantry.

Tragically, he was killed in action just eight days after the coronation, on 10th June 1953. His death came just six short weeks before an armistice was signed between the North Korean and Chinese armies and the United Nations forces on 27th July 1953. The armistice remains in effect today as a formal peace treaty on the Korean peninsula has never been signed. Major Tresawna is remembered on a plaque inside Probus Church.