QUEEN'S JUBILEE
Everyone loves a party!
So soon after the marriage of Prince William to Katherine Middleton, when I hope, like me, you enjoyed a street party, we are celebrating again!
I wonder if we all realise how very special our Queen's Jubilee is. On June 3rd this year Elizabeth II will have reigned over us for 60 glorious years. This is second only to Queen Victoria, who reigned for 63 years and 7 months. Who could blame our Queen if she harbours a secret desire to beat that record?
To say that I well remember the day she was crowned, all those years ago in 1953, rather ages me I fear. But who could forget such a day? I was not, unfortunately, allowed to go to London with my parents and my older brothers to line the streets, as I was considered to be too young. Will I ever forgive them for leaving me behind?!
Nonetheless, watching the ceremony on a 14 inch black and white television set was still a source of great excitement and one that filled me with awe and wonder. To see such a very young woman unexpectedly receiving the Crown of England was a sight I will always remember. No doubt many of you will have seen the iconic photographs of that special day.
As we prepare for our street parties, or to watch the celebrations on television, it is worth considering all the enormous changes that have taken place in the last 60 years.
Take a look round your kitchen. Very few people had fridges, food was kept in larders. Microwave ovens were a thing of the future. Our mothers beat eggs and meringues with a fork. Meat and vegetables never came in packages, toast was cooked under a grill and Supermarkets were not even dreamed of!
Take a look at your TV. Hardly anyone had a set in those days, and if they did it was black and white and the screen was tiny. There was just one channel - The BBC. Music came on breakable vinyl records which needed a turntable and a sharp needle to give us sound. Radios were called Wirelesses and music players were Gramophones.
If you were luck enough to have a telephone, you would pick up the receiver and give the number you wanted to an "operator" who then "put you through". Of course nobody had mobile phones; all phones were connected to the wall on a short lead so one couldn't ever walk round the house while on the phone!
Of course nobody had a computer. It wasn't until the late eighties when computers first became available. (Even the early days of Stagecoach were somehow managed without the aid of a computer and database!).
There were no games consoles, play stations, DVD players, I Pods, I Phones, electronic toys, CD players, Sat Nav's or Wii Games.
You may wonder what on earth young people did for fun in the 1950's and 60's. Well I can tell you life was very different, but we had FUN, oh wow, we had GREAT fun. We played with our friends in the parks, hung out in each others gardens, went for cycle rides and picnics, joined Youth Clubs, Drama and Sports Clubs and when we were older hung out at jazz and rock clubs, and tried to teach ourselves how to play the guitar. Believe me great times were had in those far off days!
I wonder if the Queen reflects on the massive changes that have overcome the world since she acceded to the throne. She has seen governments come and go, parliaments change, countries leave the Commonwealth and 15 Olympic Games! How fitting that this year's Games should be in London this celebratory year.
The second Elizabethan period has been remarkable, and I am proud to call myself a modern Elizabethan. How about you?
Stephanie Manuel
Founder, Stagecoach Theatre Arts
So soon after the marriage of Prince William to Katherine Middleton, when I hope, like me, you enjoyed a street party, we are celebrating again!
I wonder if we all realise how very special our Queen's Jubilee is. On June 3rd this year Elizabeth II will have reigned over us for 60 glorious years. This is second only to Queen Victoria, who reigned for 63 years and 7 months. Who could blame our Queen if she harbours a secret desire to beat that record?
To say that I well remember the day she was crowned, all those years ago in 1953, rather ages me I fear. But who could forget such a day? I was not, unfortunately, allowed to go to London with my parents and my older brothers to line the streets, as I was considered to be too young. Will I ever forgive them for leaving me behind?!
Nonetheless, watching the ceremony on a 14 inch black and white television set was still a source of great excitement and one that filled me with awe and wonder. To see such a very young woman unexpectedly receiving the Crown of England was a sight I will always remember. No doubt many of you will have seen the iconic photographs of that special day.
As we prepare for our street parties, or to watch the celebrations on television, it is worth considering all the enormous changes that have taken place in the last 60 years.
Take a look round your kitchen. Very few people had fridges, food was kept in larders. Microwave ovens were a thing of the future. Our mothers beat eggs and meringues with a fork. Meat and vegetables never came in packages, toast was cooked under a grill and Supermarkets were not even dreamed of!
Take a look at your TV. Hardly anyone had a set in those days, and if they did it was black and white and the screen was tiny. There was just one channel - The BBC. Music came on breakable vinyl records which needed a turntable and a sharp needle to give us sound. Radios were called Wirelesses and music players were Gramophones.
If you were luck enough to have a telephone, you would pick up the receiver and give the number you wanted to an "operator" who then "put you through". Of course nobody had mobile phones; all phones were connected to the wall on a short lead so one couldn't ever walk round the house while on the phone!
Of course nobody had a computer. It wasn't until the late eighties when computers first became available. (Even the early days of Stagecoach were somehow managed without the aid of a computer and database!).
There were no games consoles, play stations, DVD players, I Pods, I Phones, electronic toys, CD players, Sat Nav's or Wii Games.
You may wonder what on earth young people did for fun in the 1950's and 60's. Well I can tell you life was very different, but we had FUN, oh wow, we had GREAT fun. We played with our friends in the parks, hung out in each others gardens, went for cycle rides and picnics, joined Youth Clubs, Drama and Sports Clubs and when we were older hung out at jazz and rock clubs, and tried to teach ourselves how to play the guitar. Believe me great times were had in those far off days!
I wonder if the Queen reflects on the massive changes that have overcome the world since she acceded to the throne. She has seen governments come and go, parliaments change, countries leave the Commonwealth and 15 Olympic Games! How fitting that this year's Games should be in London this celebratory year.
The second Elizabethan period has been remarkable, and I am proud to call myself a modern Elizabethan. How about you?
Stephanie Manuel
Founder, Stagecoach Theatre Arts
Stephanie's Blogs
Memories flood in as I reflect on the changes over the last 60 years, in celebration of the Queen's Jubilee.
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Stagecoach International
