Coronation week 1953

The reign of Queen Elizabeth II came to an end last night at 11.30pm Malaysia time (4.30pm in the United Kingdom on the eighth of September 2022). Given her advanced age which was 96 years old, this news still caught me rather unawares last night as I was about to go to sleep. My routine was to give the news websites a last look before switching off my computer and the news of the Queen's declining health - her death had yet to be announced then - literally jumped off my monitor. I awoke this morning to read that the inevitable had happened. My chatgroups were all full of her death the whole of today. One of my schoolmates mentioned that he "somehow felt a sense of loss and passing of an era even as a Malaysian." I had replied, "We should note that for the first three to four years of our lives, she too was our sovereign. So this sense of loss is not unexplainable." Until Malaya gained Independence on 31 August 1957 and we had our Constitutional Agong, the British monarch was indeed our sovereign and our forefathers pledged allegiance to the British Crown.

Instead of writing a sombre post to reflect her passing, I would prefer to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's long 70-year reign, and what better way to do so than to say something about her Coronation celebration in 1953. She ascended to the British throne in February 1952 upon the death of her father, George VI. Her Coronation took place in June 1953 and was celebrated far and wide in all reaches of the British Empire. In Malaya, the Coronation Week celebration took place from the second to the seventh of June in 1953. There were events and festivities along the length and breadth of the peninsula, including Singapore. Penang's celebrations centred around George Town but there were celebrations in Butterworth, Bukit Mertajam and Nibong Tebal too, although on a much smaller scale. 

On the island, the celebrations on 2 June 1953 began with Hindu services at the Queen Street, Dato Kramat and Waterfall temples, a High Mass of Thanksgiving at the Church of Assumption, an Anglican service at the St George's Church, a Buddhist service at the Penang Buddhist Association and a military parade at the Esplanade. A Chingay procession started from the Town Hall while a Municipal athletic sports meet was held at the Dato Kramat Ground. A bonfire was lit on Penang Hill. There was a luncheon at the Penang Club and a Coronation Ball at the Residency. 

On 3 June, there was another Chingay procession this time starting from the Chinese Town Hall. A six-a-side football tournament was played at the Dato Kramat Ground. At night, a Municipal fireworks display at the Esplanade. The activities on 4 June were a combined Schools Rally at the Dato Kramat Ground. At night, a cocktail party on board the HMS Jaseur. On 5 June, there was a Municipal Council's children's party at the Great World Park, a route march by the Youth bodies in Penang, a Municipal Council reception at the Municipal Council Chamber, and a social and dance organised by the Rubber Trade Association. At night, there was a Chettiar fireworks display at the Esplanade. The 6 June events were a parade of vehicles from Light Street, a birthday garden party at the Residency, a cocktail party at the RNVR Headquarters, a Festival of Youth at the ACS Hall and a Settlement fireworks display at the Esplanade. Finally on 7 June, there was a regatta at the Penang Swimming Club before the last Municipal fireworks display brought the celebration to an end on the island.

On the mainland, celebrations were confined to 2 June only. The Butterworth celebrations were a ceremonial parade, a march past, religious services in churches, mosques and temples, a procession of decorated vehicles and floats, a cinema show on the St Mark's School's padang and finally, a Police play and fireworks display at the Town Padang. In Bukit Mertajam, ceremonies were conducted in the Malay kampongs and new villages, services were held in all churches and mosques, the District Officer spoke at the Town Padang, there was a parade and march past by the Police and other units, a floodlit display by schools on the Town Padang in the evening, followed by a fireworks display and a carnival procession. Nibong Tebal, not to be left out, held a baby show in a Malay school, a Youth parade by the Boy Scouts and school children, the finals of the Coronation football competition and a fireworks bonfire and film show.

Penang Free School participated in the combined School Rally on 5 June, and this was duly recorded in the school magazine of 1953 which dedicated the issue to Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation. The first few pages described how the School had participated in the School Rally.