C-DAY, as it was known - the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday, June 2, 1953 - was celebrated in style throughout Wyre Forest, with street parties and festivities, even though rain had threatened to put a dampener on proceedings.

The Kidderminster Times reported the weather did not mar the big day and, although some firework displays were held over to the next weekend, many went ahead and a chain of giant bonfires was burning that night.

As opposed to most places in the Midlands, where the Whitsun break was surrendered by workers for a longer coronation holiday, this was not the case in Kidderminster. Carpet workers were back at their looms on Wednesday - the day after the coronation - albeit in weaving sheds decorated for the occasion.

The newspaper devoted many columns to the celebration and told how Stourport and Bewdley also played their part.

Stourport enjoyed a whole week of coronation activities, starting with an old folks party. It continued with a parade and civic service on the Sunday, when the Rev JS Billings called on people to make their parties the forerunner of a "great new Elizabethan age".

On the great day many Bewdley folk chose to watch the coronation on television or listen to the radio. Dancing on Severnside South had a slow beginning but as the evening went on a crowd danced to records played next to the bandstand.