Celebrating the Queen's Coronation with a party

And whether you were one of them or not, share with us now the delights of the day, as caught on camera by local photographer John Wilkinson.

The pictures were sent to us by John’s son, who is also called John, who explains that: “My father was a very keen amateur photographer.

“He did all his own developing and printing. His ‘lab’ was the bathroom, the blackout, red light and enlarger were all made by himself.

“The Coronation street party, he photographed, was held in Bywell Avenue, I believe the tables and chairs were borrowed from Harton School. The races and games were held on the ‘bottom field’ adjacent to Horsley Hill.

“I am in one of the photographs running with the children. I would have been five years old at the time. The building in the background of the pictures is, I think, a pumping station next to the reservoir. This is now the medical centre.”

Watch out for more of Mr Wilkinson’s wonderful pictures tomorrow.