An amateur film of Queen Elizabeth II coronation celebrations taking place in Stockton-on-Tees in June 1953 made by local toyshop owner Leslie Brown. The film includes the coronation of the Stockton Coronation Queen at the Globe Theatre and festive decorations in Stockton town centre. At Ropner Park, Stockton’s Coronation Gala takes place, the parade led by the Stockton Coronation Queen. The final part of the film records a Mayor’s Sunday parade on Stockton High Street.  The filmmaker's...

An amateur film of Queen Elizabeth II coronation celebrations taking place in Stockton-on-Tees in June 1953 made by local toyshop owner Leslie Brown. The film includes the coronation of the Stockton Coronation Queen at the Globe Theatre and festive decorations in Stockton town centre. At Ropner Park, Stockton’s Coronation Gala takes place, the parade led by the Stockton Coronation Queen. The final part of the film records a Mayor’s Sunday parade on Stockton High Street.  The filmmaker's young son Tony Brown, wearing a red and white checked shirt, beret and rosette, sits beside Norton Pond flicking through a souvenir program of Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation. He holds up the first title card to the camera. Title: Coppelia Cinema presents He turns the card over. Title: Stockton Coronation Celebrations June 1953 Another card reads: Credit: Colour Photography and Sound Recording Leslie Brown Credit: Title Master Tony Brown The boy points at the card to the word ‘Tony’. Credit: Commentary by Ronald White Manager of Globe Theatre Stockton The film opens with exterior general view of the Globe Theatre on Stockton-on-Tees High Street. Various royal images hang from the building and a large banner reads ‘Elizabeth is Queen’ and beneath it ‘Long May She Reign’. Below, beside two sets of double doors, another banner promotes ‘Rose Marie on Ice’. [Black and white footage] Inside the Globe theatre, a poster advertises ‘Tonight 8pm The Crowning of Stockton’s Coronation Queen by His Worship the Mayor and Mayoress’. On stage, the Globe Manager Ronald White, dressed in a dinner jacket and bow-tie, addresses the audience at a microphone. Young women in evening gowns parade onto the stage, each holding a number. He introduces and speaks with some of the beauty contestants.  A young girl presents a bouquet to the Lady Mayoress who is wearing her chains of office. The girl curtsies and shakes hands with the Mayoress. The Mayor, Councillor Claude R Booth, also wearing his chains of office, picks up the girl. He puts her down and she walks off stage to applause. Wrapped presents and bouquets are presented to each of the young women. One of the women shakes hands with the Mayoress. Another man wearing a medallion speaks into the microphone, the Mayor standing to his left. The Mayor begins to applaud. He then makes a speech. The Mayor places the ‘Queen of Stockton’ sash around the shoulders of one of the young women seated in the middle of the stage. The beauty queen is crowned. The Mayor kisses her on the cheek before helping her to her feet and presenting her to the audience. Everyone leaves the stage. In a small room backstage, a crowd of people are served drinks. They raise their glasses to the Stockton Queen. The Mayoress leads guests in toasting the new Stockton beauty queen. Close-up of a man's medallion, which reads ‘Stockton Thornaby Chamber of Trade’. Portrait shot of him smoking a cigarette. A second young girl presents a bouquet to the Mayoress. Both she and the Mayor kiss the girl on her cheek. She turns and poses for the camera. General view of the crowd chatting and laughing. [Colour] The next section opens with exterior views of Stockton Town Hall on the High Street. Bunting hangs down from the roof and a banner underneath a large image of Queen Elizabeth reads ‘God Save The Queen’. There are displays of flowers around the Market Cross. Various general views record the decorated shops and department stores around Stockton-on-Tees including Woodhouse and Sons, J. Wolsey and Sons Ltd ‘,English Empire and Foreign Fruits’, Garretts and Sons, Coats and Sidgewick Ltd. Union Jacks hang down outside the Marks and Spencer store. Photos of the Queen and Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh adorn the window of Thirwell’s Ltd. Banners and bunting hang from the Lit and Phil Institute. More general views show the shop window of Isaac Robson and Co. Ltd and Ideal Decorations Ltd who have installed a large ‘E.R’ design above their shop window. Across the awning outside the Empire Theatre a banner reads ‘From Stockton Boys Overseas. God Save the Queen’. An image of the Queen hangs down from the windows above. The film cuts to a view of the exterior of Stan Jones public house on the High Street, an image of the Queen on horseback, and bunting above the shop window of Leslie Brown ‘The Record Shop’. A large banner above reads ‘His Masters Voice’. Next, the filmmaker shows the family home in Norton decked out with bunting and flags. Tony Brown attaches small Union Jack flags to the family car. Another title card rests on a stool: Title: Stockton Market Coronation Display 1953 Close-up of the image of Queen Elizabeth hanging from the town hall, followed by general views of various decorated market stalls, many adorned with bunting and photographs. A large crowd are out browsing the market. At W. Edwards Expert Tripe Dressers, a man and woman wearing colourful rosettes sell their produce. Various colourful flowers are on display at the stall of J.E. Medd Flowers. The Mayor and Mayoress stand amongst the large crowds browsing the stalls. A stall holder weighs a bag of tomatoes for a customer on his stall. Various stallholders stand behind their decorated stalls posing proudly for the camera. One woman stands behind a display of tinned goods while another comically holds up a pair of silk bloomers for the camera. Another blank title card rests on a stool. Tony Brown walks past taking the card away revealing another title beneath. Title: Ropner Park Coronation Gala June 1953 At Ropner Park the Coronation Gala parade takes place. Decorated vehicles and trade floats in the parade include ‘Hodgson’s Wine Seller’, a Morris Minor car decorated in flowers and bunting, a float carrying two small children dressed as Queen Elizabeth [Pauline McKenzie] and Prince Philip [JImmy Melville]. A banner hanging behind them reads ‘Long Live the Queen’. The model of a ship sits on the back of a horse drawn wagon, at the stern a sign reading ‘Royal Line Stockton-on-Tees’. The next float contains a display of sacks of flour from Clevo Flour, ‘Clevita – for ideal brown’. A number of Stockton Corporation floats are decorated with flowers and banners. The first float reads ‘Stockton 1953 Progress’ and images relating to the shipping industry past and future, are seen along the bottom. The banner on the next float reads ‘Stockton’s Link with History’ with images of the railway along the bottom. Additional images on display are Sheraton furniture, friction matches [invented by Stockton chemist John Walker], heavy industry, an open-air theatre and Preston Hall. A large crowd walk through the park near to Dodshon's Fountain past the parade of floats. On a showground inside the park, a crowd watch as the Stockton Coronation Queen (Margaret Flynn) leads a procession of costumed children around a field. A little girl dressed as Queen Elizabeth, pinned with a First Prize award, is flanked by two boys dressed as beefeaters or yeoman warders and follows behind the Coronation Queen.  A procession of other children dressed in various costumes, mainly patriotic and coronation related, follow. A young girl rides a tricycle decorated in red, white and blue streamers. Costumed adults follow in the parade including a man dressed as a skeleton and another dressed in black carrying a sign around his neck that reads ‘Britain for Everest’. Another man sports mountaineering equipment, emulating Edmond Hilary. The First Prize winner dressed as Queen Elizabeth rides past on the back on a pony. General views show the parade making it's way around the showground watched by the large crowd.  In the centre of the showground a number of acrobats perform on a high frame. A crowd are examining a decorated vehicle, which has also won a ‘First Prize’. On the path beside the showground, a large crowd watch as sailors from the Royal Navy march past in dress uniforms, followed by a decorated float in the shape of an Elizabethan sailing ship. Around the bow is written ‘HMS Elizabeth’. On board, youngsters are dressed in historic sailor outfits. Following behind comes a float for the Women’s Voluntary Services and behind them an army lorry carrying soldiers in uniform. All the vehicles come to a stop along the pathway as large crowds gather around them. Another title card on a stool is snatched away by Tony Brown. Title: Stockton Mayor’s Sunday June 1953 Along Stockton High Street, a parade makes its way towards St Thomas’s Parish Church watched by locals. A military marching band leads the procession followed by a group of policemen, Royal Navy and Armed Forces platoons, the Royal Navy Comrades Association and another ex-servicemen’s association marching behind their banners, women in nurses uniforms, and the Boy’s Brigade. The mayor is at the rear flanked by two police officers, and behind him other civic dignitaries all wearing robes and chains of office. The film cuts to show views of the exterior of Leslie Brown’s shop on the High Street. After the church service, the procession back along the High Street is headed by the Mayor and civic dignitaries. A brief shot follows of Tony Brown standing on a railing pointing at the procession heading his way. On a small platform, the Mayor takes the salute from the various organisations who march past, including scouts and guides to the rear. The closing title card rests on the stool: End title: The end. A Coppelia Production.