Banstead Village

Banstead celebrates the Coronation!

This souvenir programme from Banstead commemorates the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937. Celebrations kicked off at 8.30am with the bells of All Saints church ringing a quarter-peal under the direction of Mr HN Pitstow, followed by the unfurling of the Union Jack at the Council House, Brighton Road.

That was followed by a Grand Carnival Procession from the Council House to the Lady Neville recreation ground where Stella Bell was crowned Carnival Queen, and Frank Dennis Carnival King. Awards were also given for the best decorated perambulators and push chairs, plus tradesmen’s vehicles and horse-drawn vehicles.

At 12.45pm a luncheon took place at Garton recreation ground in Garratts Lane, to which “all persons over 65 years of age” were invited; music was provided by the Banstead Silver Band under the direction of Mr H Cave. Community sports events followed.

Then came a cricket match and country dancing, and at 9.30pm a torchlight procession took place from Garratts Lane to Banstead Downs, where a bonfire “constructed by the Banstead District Rover Scouts under the direction of Mr L Stowe” was lit. And everything was happily rounded off at 11pm “by the singing of God Save the King”.

It sounds like a good time was had by all!