Patrick Cain was 35 in Coronation year. He lived in Affleck Street with his wife Betty and baby son, and stayed in Islington his whole life. He sadly passed away a few months ago within weeks of his Mrs Cain, but his son Barry had recorded his memories of the day of Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation.
“There was only one family in the whole of the street who had a television and about 50 neighbours crammed into the front room to watch the Coronation live. Although the TV was massive, the screen was tiny, no more than nine inches, and the picture was blurry. But it still felt magical. It rained on and off throughout the day but it didn’t stop us having a street party where the kids tucked into chicken and trifle. It seemed as if the whole world was celebrating and nothing since has come close. The war was still pretty fresh in people’s minds – some neighbours had lost sons and the street itself had been bombed – but the whole day felt like a new beginning.”
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