Claygate Celebrates the Coronation

Exotic floats and fancy-dress feature in the Surrey village's exuberant celebrations for Queen Elizabeth's Coronation.

The 6th of June 1953 sees the Surrey village of Claygate pull out all the stops in its Coronation festivities. There's a parade of decorated floats ranging from the everyday to the bizarrely exotic. There's a reference to Thor Heyerdahl's Kon-Tike expedition as well as a panto-horse and a fairy. We see a motorcade of period cars with period-costumed passengers pass by, followed by the 'Queen' herself before the final celebratory bonfire and fireworks.