Experiencing a second coronation

Mosgiel man Malcolm Deverson is about to go through his second coronation — but this one is going to be somewhat different than the first.

Mr Deverson (73) was just a small boy, not even at school, when Queen Elizabeth II was officially crowned back in June 1953.

He was living in Ramsgate, a seaside town in Kent, in southeast England.

"It was a big deal and they had a massive street party where we lived. Tables were out on the street and everyone were all smiles," he said.

"I was only 3 so I don’t really remember a lot about it. But my parents were really into it and there were street parties going on everywhere."

As rationing was still going on in England — a hangover from World War 2 — the best thing about the street party was all the food, Mr Deverson said.

The family  left England just over a year later seeking a life elsewhere, and ended up in Christchurch. He is now living in Mosgiel.

The coronation of King Charles is about to happen this weekend in London, so Mr Deverson has found himself thinking about the event all those years ago.

There were street parties being organised in London and other parts of the United Kingdom for King Charles, but it appeared nothing  of that nature was happening in New Zealand, he said.

He was not a staunch royalist and it was up to the younger people of New Zealand as to whether they wanted the King to continue to be the head of state in New Zealand, Mr Deverson said.

Although the celebrations in the South are going to be more low key than in the United Kingdom, there is a high tea organised for Larnach Castle on Saturday afternoon, while Age Concern is having a ball at the South Dunedin Town Hall next Tuesday.