Andre Haulard

HOW did Hatfield celebrate the Queen’s Coronation in 1953?

Original Queen's coronation programme

Well all the answers can be found in a fascinating programme, which a resident was given this week.

The Souvenir Programme For The Celebration Of The Coronation Of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was uncovered during the clearing out of the former Hatfield Police Station in St Albans Road East by a worker and handed to Andre Haulard this week.

The 67-year-old Holliers Court resident, who is a keen historian, said: “At first I wasn’t too sure what it was, it just looked like junk so I was going to chuck it.

“Then I realised it was something quite special.

“I feel really lucky to have it.”

Inside the document there is a foreword from the previous Lord Salisbury, messages from various council chairmen, as well as a list of all the royal visitors to Hatfield, a piece on Queen Elizabeth I’s time in Hatfield and a story explaining the history of the coat of arms and the civil flag.

Also featured is a programme listing the events which were ongoing to mark the event.

First on Friday and Saturday, May 29 and 30 there were a series of performances from the Hatfield Dramatic Society and the de Havilland Choral Society, as well as church services, evening balls and an open day at de Havilland.

On Tuesday, June 2 it says how Hatfield is to celebrate with a carnival procession, sporting finals, dancing, side shows, games, a bonfire, fireworks and an overall fun day.

Andre, who is the great-great-grandson of famous French composer Daniel François Esprit Auber, said: “I don’t know how many of these there will be in the area, but I think they must be quite rare.

“I’m not too sure what to do with it now, I think I would like it to go to maybe the library or the museum.”