'The Crown' at Thorpeness Regatta, June 1953

​In Her Majesty the Queen's Platinum Jubilee year 2022, it seems appropriate to remember the spectacular pageant which took place on Thorpeness Meare in 1953 to celebrate the Coronation. The following account is taken from an article in the Leiston Observer of July 3rd 1953 and photographs from the George Cook collection which has proved to be such a valuable historical source for the Heritage Group.
 
Despite unfavourable weather, The Thorpeness Pageant was described as having ‘.....totally eclipsed anything previously seen there...the story of the British Empire was portrayed in a procession of seventeen illuminated boats'.The theme was the formation and growth of the Empire arranged by the staff and pupils of Leiston Grammar & Modern Schools who undertook the carpentry and lighting effects on their own boats and the Primary Schools who made the garments, weapons, shields, backcloths etc.
 
Aldeburgh Primary School led the procession with a boat representing the invasion of Britain by the Romans, with standard bearer, slaves rowing and Julius Caesar in the stern. The Norsemen or Vikings were portrayed by Leiston Primary School with the Chieftan in the bow. FristonPrimary School depicted the Normans against a background of a Norman castle, with King and Queen, knights in armour, bowmen and a jester in the stern. An independent preparatory school from Sizewell Hall performed the signing of the Magna Carta and Leiston Modern School represented Tudor splendour with Queen Elizabeth I and Sir Walter Raleigh. The British Empire scenes were created by Leiston Modern School which showed India with the Great Mogul and pro-Consul Lord Clive, and two boats representing Canada, designed, manned and constructed by Aldringham Primary School.
 
The pageant circumnavigated the Meare, returning to the 'old country' at the beginning of the 19th century with a fine model of HMS Victory, constructed by George Cook. There was then a return to the Empire with Africa represented by Leiston Modern School and Australia depicted by Knodishall Primary School. The 20th century was portrayed by three boats designed by Leiston Grammar School which showed scientific achievements including medical advances, the jet age, radar and atomic energy. The final boat was the crowning glory of the Empire; 'a magnificent piece of work, beautifully illuminated, which took its chief architect Mr. George Cook, eight months to complete'. This was a crown which stood five feet high and was made from card, paper, cloth, imitation jewels using mirror glass and foil, all on a wooden frame with several hundred ping-pong balls covered with silver paint for all the pearls. George Cook spent many hours constructing the magnificent crown in the rear of the Fish Shop (part of the thatched barn in Old Homes Road) and in the cellar of his home at Beacon Hill Cottages.

​The Coronation year of 1953 was the only time in the history of the Thorpeness Regatta that the village employees and their children were allowed to take part in the race events and the results were recorded in the Leiston Observer of Friday 3rd July 1953. The crown, like the British Empire, did not survive intact. It resided for many years in the Workman's Club (opposite The Dolphin, now holiday apartments) where the ping pong balls came in handy for the games table when supplies ran short.

Left: 1953 HMS Victory model with Nelson on the foredeck; Right: Hilary Chandler (nee Cook) aged 8 years as Queen Boadicea, Regatta night Friday 21st August 1954

George Cook's magnificent crown: Top: detail showing 'jewels and pearls'; : Above the crown on the thwart of a punt on the Meare, showing its large scale

Two undated photographs of decorated rowing boats: Top: Square Rigger; Above: Swallowtail butterfly (photographs from the George Cook collection)