Coronation Choristers
Coronation Choristers 1952-2023
The Westminster Celebration
July 17th, 2023
On the afternoon of Monday 17 July 2023, a group of the former choristers – most now in their 80s – reconvened in the historic Jerusalem Chamber at Westminster Abbey for a welcome and address from the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle MBE. Also in attendance was the Abbey organist, Andrew Nethsingha, who directed the combined choirs at the 2023 Coronation of King Charles III.
70 years after they sang together at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, a group of former boy choristers were reunited on Monday 17 July, coming together to mark the anniversary of their royal performance.
This reception was followed by a tour of the Abbey, taking in the setting from which the 400-strong choir sang in 1953.
The 1953 choristers then reconvened in The Crypt at St John Smith’s Square for a celebration hosted by the University of Hertfordshire’s Oral History Team and Heritage Hub. No fewer than 25 of the 33 choristers who were interviewed for the project were present. They had travelled from as far afield as Devon,Yorkshire, Dorset, Norfolk…and France. The guests were treated to audio clips from the Choristers of the Coronation interview collection, and a moving replaying of choral music from the recording of the 1953 Coronation service.
Andrew Green, Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Hertfordshire, said:
“The recent Coronation of our King has reminded us all once again of the huge significance of such an occasion. It also highlighted the extent to which our world has changed since the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, something made clear in the Choristers of the Coronation interviews. It has been a privilege to hear these individuals’ memories of the whole 1953 experience and of their lives since. This is the kind of project that demonstrates why oral history is so valuable, preserving for posterity the stories of the people behind historical events in their own words.
“We are thrilled that so many of the participants joined us in Westminster, on what was such a memorable and emotional occasion.”
Coronation chorister Graham Neal, who in 1953 was singing in the choir of All Saints, Eastleigh, in Hampshire, said:
“The idea behind Choristers of the Coronation was brilliant. I was thrilled to be involved because it means that my grandchildren will be able to read the full story of what happened back in 1953. Being interviewed brought back many memories and was so uplifting… you realise your part in a great event hasn’t been forgotten.”
The Choristers of the Coronation project was led by Andrew Green, supported by Professor Katrina Navickas and Dr Leanne Calvert from the University of Hertfordshire History group.
The oral interviews and transcripts, together with a gallery of images of historical photographs and memorabilia, will shortly be available elsewhere on the University of Hertfordshire Heritage Hub website.
The event was featured on ITV London News on 18 July.
BBC Music Magazine have also featured a report on the event. Read it here: https://www.classical-music.com/news/1953-coronation-choristers-celebrate-70th-anniversary/
Andrew Green produced this documentary for the BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01sll29
You can watch a video about the project here: UH Oral History - Queen's Chorister's 70th Anniversary Promo on Vimeo