Ansley Jottings June 22

Ansley Jottings: June

I am sure that many readers will remember the Queen’s coronation on 2nd June 1953, as do I.  I had started school in February 1953 and remember that my first school photograph was taken against a background of coronation photos.  Each of us school children were given a coronation mug, which I kept for many years.  I don’t think I ever used it and eventually it went to a charity shop with some other family coronation mugs.  I didn’t see the coronation on television but remember being taken to see film of it at the cinema.  We also had commemoration magazines at home.  I remember being very impressed by all the colour and pageantry.

Over the years it has been good to celebrate anniversaries of the coronation, especially the street parties held in Nuthurst Crescent.  I have some memories too of the celebrations in our local village in West Sussex in 1953.

I noticed that the Queen asked for support through prayer on the day of her coronation.

“I ask you all, whatever your religion, to pray for me on the day of my coronation- to pray that God would give me wisdom and strength to carry out the promises that I should then be making.”

I am sure she would appreciate it if we prayed for her in a similar way on the 70th anniversary of her coronation.

I found the following prayer on the Church of England Platinum Jubilee Resources page.

Gracious God, we give you thanks

For the reign of your servant Elizabeth our Queen,

And for the example of loving and faithful service

Which she has shown among us.

Help us to follow her example of dedication

And to commit our lives to you and to one another,

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.                                D.K.