Coronations in Thurso through the years have had a mixed reception
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Thurso's Heritage by a Thirsa Loon
This month, Thurso Community Council hosted their coronation street party. Therefore, I decided to look back at previous coronations in the town, including comments from those who were not so enthusiastic, with some attitudes shared today.
The town was praised for its celebrations in 1902 when King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra were crowned.
“The town was literally ablaze with adornment” from the British Linen Bank, and every shop and house on Olrig Street was decorated in an “artistic manner”. The Town Hall “never wore such magnificent clothing,” and High Street, Rotterdam Street and Sinclair Street businesses were “resplendent” with flags, banners, bunting and other decorations.
All the public bodies of the town attended a church service in the morning, with the Town Council sponsoring an afternoon banquet at the Town Hall. Mr Cairnie, the chemist, supervised an evening fireworks display in Sir John Square as crowds filled the streets listening to the Artillery Brass Band. He then did a second show from the Royal Hotel balcony.
The next coronation was in 1911 with King George V and Queen Mary. The celebrations in the town were carried through as planned despite heavy showers. Public bodies assembled in the Royal Hotel followed by a united church service and procession toasting the King’s health.
The afternoon saw a long programme of sports held, a massed choir singing the national anthem and pupils saluting the flag. In the evening, they held a fancy dress cycle and horse parade with great success even through heavy showers of rain. Sir Tollemache Sinclair provided coronation mugs to be presented to the children.
At the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937, several events took place. The children were given a shilling and souvenir mug in the Town Hall after seeing a film at the Picture House. The pensioners went on a motor tour to John O’Groats in the afternoon. Dinner was served by Thurso Townswomen’s Guild when they returned home.
The poor received a tea caddy and ten-shilling notes with costs covered by a fund of Sir William Thomson, a former Lord Provost of Edinburgh whose mother belonged to Thurso. The evening included a concert, dance, and a bonfire with fireworks by John Miller of Scrabster House. There was also a procession, church service, a coronation broadcast, five-a-side football game, and a dinner dance.
Celebrations weren’t for everyone. Marwood Sutherland wrote to one Scottish newspaper: “When Scots win the reality of a restored Parliament, and nationhood included in the British Commonwealth, with national status, and a representative at Geneva, a coronation then ceases to be a vapid snob mockery!”
The subsequent coronation for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 saw a similar tone from one member, Councillor Mackenzie, saying: “If I were a child again, I would not thank you for your two-and-sixpenny stamp. I would take the two-and-sixpence and blow the lot!” Mackenzie’s opinion was generally accepted.
A public meeting decided to rouse the town’s 3324 inhabitants on a more spirited note. After waking up to bagpipes in the morning, the festivities would end with a “really big” bonfire and fireworks display.
But there was some contention with gifting a souvenir to the senior pupils. Caithness Education Committee refused an ABC guide because they felt it ignored Scotland and therefore was inappropriate for the county's children.
- To get in touch, contact thursoheritage1@gmail.com
