Celebrating the Coronation Hampstead-style
I suppose it’s more complicated staging a coronation but our plans at hpc certainly took some organising! First of all, Coronation day itself. Around 100 people came together in church to watch on big screens, to drink coffee and to consume an enormous number of biscuits. I feared for the children’s sugar levels by the end of the morning. But it was fun – much more fun than sitting at home. We started at 10am and stayed on air until the flypast at 2.30. We stood to sing the National Anthem and applauded The Red Arrows. Very satisfactory.
Then Sunday. Special prayers for the King and Queen and a very special cake, along with fizz to toast His Majesty. In the afternoon, not entirely to celebrate the Coronation, we had the first of a series of Sunday afternoon organ recitals, and then a very splendid evensong followed by more cake and more fizz. Even more satisfactory.
And finally, Our BIG DAY. The Thrift Fair – Lunches (Coronation Quiche and Coronation Chicken) –Kombucha and Kimchi – Craft Activities for Adults and Children – some very interesting talks on environmental issues and finally a Ceilidh. It’s hard to imagine anyone had enough energy for dancing by then but they did! And the evening was rounded off with baked potatoes and yet more cake.
Of course part of the intention was to raise money and we did. Something in the region of £3000 will be divided between Food Bank Aid (a local charity) and Transform Trade (formerly Traidcraft).
But it was also about enjoying ourselves, about encouraging everyone to get involved, about creating a joyful occasion – and that we certainly did!”
