Published: Tuesday, 30th June, 2009 3:31pm

How Largs and district celebrated Queen's Coronation

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In this week"s Know Your Largs, we travel back to 1953 and the year of the Queen"s coronation.

There were week long celebrations throughout the district with sporting events, street parties and all local traders and shops put out flags and bunting to provide Largs town centre and seafront with an air of royalty.

However, the Coronation Day itself did not pass without incident.

The "News" reported: 'While Provost Montgomery was attending his home to the broadcast of the Coronation ceremonies, he had a telephone call from a man who said he was a member of the Scottish Republican Army.

'The Decorations at the municipal chambers have been damaged and more damage will be done,' said the man in a sinister tone.

The Provost tried to engage the caller in conversation but he hung up. The police were informed and it was found that the numerals II in the Queen"s cipher had been cut from a panel banner hanging on front of the wall of the council chambers alongside the entrance to the Town"s Chamberlain department.

A similar banner with the numerals II is on the seaside of the building but this either went unnoticed or it was too difficult to reach because of its height from the ground. The male had a youthful voice with some speculating he may have arrived in the town in one of the bus parties at the bus park in Brisbane Road.

Ballroom dancing was proving to be the main form of Saturday night entertainment, so much so, that the owners of the Moorings were applying to increase their capacity.

Castleton"s had just opened their "Crown bakeries" at a new branch in 42 Charles Street with fresh morning rolls available from 6.30am.

Local businesses were taking advantage of the feel good factor which was filtering through Britain at the time with the likes of the Marine Hotel offering a Coronation Grand Night, offering a dinner dance with midnight buffet. Tickets were 17/6 from the Hotel office, with music provided by Jim Houston"s band.

One problem for many was actually viewing the Coronation as at this point as televisions were a rare commodity. But never fear, Largs radio dealer, James Henderson had a plan.

As a fundraiser for the Haylie House project, Mr Henderson presented "telecinema shows" in the Masonic Hall on Coronation Day.

The "News" reported: 'In order that as many as possible can see the ceremonies, it has been decided to hold the show in three sessions, in the morning, afternoon (when actually ceremonies are to be televised) and the third show in the evening will be the telefilm of the day"s pageantry.

'Her Majesty concludes the Coronation ceremonial with a speech at 9pm.

'With three sessions, it is expected that 400 or 500 people will have the opportunity of attending, and it will be possible to book for one session or pay an inclusive charge for all three. Priority of booking will be given to local residents.'

The television programme was given on a 4 feet by 3 feet screen. The "News" added: 'The technical equipment for this, which is of an unusual character, and is a new development in its field, has been constructed by Mr Henderson with the Coronation in mind.'

The Moorings Ballroom was certainly getting into the spirit of things too as they offered a Grand Double Session for the Coronation Ball on Tuesday 2 June.

The first session was from 7.30pm to 11pm and the second session was from 11.15pm till 2.30am. Free transport back to Greenock, Saltcoats and Paisley was provided at 2.30am providing patrons had made a previous application to the Manager for a Bus Reservation Ticket.

On Coronation week, all towns and villages in the local area hosted a cavalcade of events, with a parade in Millport and the planting of two trees in Copeland Crescent which was to be named "Coronation Plot". Millport staged their celebrations over a week and hosted a Coronation Eve ball in the Garrison ballroom on Monday.

At 10.15pm on Coronation Day, Millport Pipe band left the Pier office for Farland Point where a bonfire was lit by the Provost Kerr. Fairlie had a fancy dress parade, sports day at Fife"s field, and a Carnival dance at the village hall. A bonfire brought proceedings to a spectacular finish at the south bay.

A Highland Society Ball took place at the Skelmorlie Hydro Hotel from 8pm to 2am.

The destroyer Crispin (see picture) was based at Largs during the week and was adorned with flags and bunting until 9pm and at night, it was illuminated. A five minute fireworks display was given at 10.20pm.

The "News" reported: 'After that, the crowds came out. Bus-trippers danced in Gallowgate Square. Crowds flocked to the Broomfields and an air of festivity grew as the red, white and blue coloured pylons were lit on the seafront, and the destroyer Crispin set off a display of rockets which lit up the night sky.'

Two Largs persons were included in the Coronation Honours List. Mr John Ballingall of 19 Laverock Drive had been made an Officer of the British Empire (OBE). He served as a Principal Scientific Officer at the Torpedo Experimental Establishment at Greenock. Mrs Anne F. Bruce (nee MacLachlan) of 14 Brisbane Street, had been made a Member of thr Order of the British Empire (MBE) as she was head of the YWCA service in the British zone in Germany, Bad Oyenhansen.

The YWCA is the oldest and largest multicultural women"s organization in the world, and advocate for women"s rights and civil rights.

There was no Brisbane Queen crowning in 1953 because of the coronation. The view expressed at the Town Council was that it would have looked like "too much of a parody". Councillor Theo Speaker summed up the feelings of the Council when he said: 'I think it would be a mockery to crown a local queen after the solemnities in Westminster Abbey.'

Provost Montgomery also pointed out that it would be unreasonable to expect traders to carry out the "heavy commitment" of decorating their premises for the Coronation, and then having to do the same thing again just a short time afterwards.

The "News" editorial said on the front page: 'The cancellation has aroused a good deal of adverse comment in the town and many have expressed regret at the council"s decision.'

Indeed, Largs High School petitioned the council as pupil Charlotte Graham stated that the Brisbane Queen was "one of the best, if not the best festival in Ayrshire" and "please do not deprive us of one of the most important highlights of our school life". However, the Brisbane Queen festival did not return until 1954.