1953 Coronation.

[rich...@googlemail.com]

Interesting little piece by the current Duke of Devonshire as to his time as page to his grandmother at the 1953 Coronation.

https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fel.sothebys.com%2Fss%2Fc%2FoQYPCGXKiMez6A3RooXLfMuKxBOMfvuMx0BCdPntYxIeNGSzHaQK41JBEuvR2UwT1wNsPpqL7QRPollHlbGqFPePi-doJvJLqwKh78IavLtwjCDxAdRxF6qmH_FH802B4jCP2kDpAYJGXUDWgsvexJ7d_k0O-seFDKhN5H98u_LDKFmi82Mt82vFcn8yGWi4nFDNyrfR-4WnJC2hIjTMeMDzVE6Aqsgxi8iHogeuUhb-VUvNDgOi_40SAxYTB2Ky-kqLSQwz4rIWT_3wGHeP561SJkWbkGOaYONKNUjcuBhzVaU8GpjWhsbyJu0xFTx0K8d2FZOIZmx89OzufM1KjmCZYlfeWQXA2pXTRbS1XR9esBQw7OuJA4JyPBuAaN49ce5G85bOF6vgB6KqHUUPyfjG6KTYbbAnjTZD1CAlckDf3qphU_1kCxp_OdhBd7llSFiNAXkppdtwed1XsX0-AvD-Qbe_7gRx_ecOKiwk375R_X8ZAWunfZvV90cgIJNWMl0wOPt74TPKefqJtIzKr4pdnoCRcRc8fB_eq3kHjUlIpUsbJaUl8LXhznAG3cEg_pfy3RMmrd6dI_n6MnFheyra5XbZBBA1KbkwmeXwfU6s4SiyCyVINCZd_5geMVcTIVWrD2050dG6MRcSUIAL-w%2F3mn%2FYNrmslkARgeNnLJQfsFRBQ%2Fh2%2FkqOrXCX_Tq6_7c9InUg_bMSomWcRaVoPVbaKAAfYvWA&data=05%7C01%7C%7Cc65fefa8f1f5402c0d5108da46dbce88%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637900207124996425%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=WaOCqtnDdZiLOnEJKCUWk7wXykcZPJp8AXSLR%2BKfZMo%3D&reserved=0

[DB]

Interesting how the memory plays tricks. The film of the coronation and the photograph used to illustrate the piece clearly show that his job was to carry the duchess's coronet. 

[Henry W]

Tidier link to article: https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/the-duke-of-devonshire-memories-of-a-coronation-page-boy-aged-9-1-4

On entry to the Abbey the Queen is followed by the Mistress of the Robes and the Page is carrying the coronet and not the train - they are barely visible at the top of the frame, but he does later do some collecting of the train when the Queen sits down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52NTjasbmgw&t=1570s (time at 0:26:10)

This film of the coronation does show the Page to the Mistress of the Robes carrying her train shortly after the anointing, which I think is the "important service" referred to in the article. Time at 1:16:00, alternatively that event may be slightly later around 1:24:30, where again the Page can be seem coming slightly into frame to carry the train.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52NTjasbmgw&t=4560s

[Henry W]

Also when departing the Abbey, the Page carries the Mistress of the Robes' train.  She is wearing her coronet at this point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52NTjasbmgw&t=9180s (timed at 2:33:00) and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52NTjasbmgw&t=10200s (timed at 2:50:00)

[colinp]

From the memoirs of Debo, Duchess of Devonshire (Wait for Me).  It would appear that the present Duke of Devonshire may have been the youngest person present for the 1953 Coronation - Prince Charles was allowed to be present but only for part of the ceremony

“In 1953 Moucher [the Dowager Duchess] was made Mistress of the Robes to the new young Queen. One of her duties was to arrange the rota for the ladies-in-waiting and I can see her, head clasped in hands, saying, ‘I must get through’ – the expression for telephoning – ‘about the Waitings.’ Hers is an important job, even in everyday life at Court; at a coronation the role is vital. I was not planning to go to the ceremony as I was pregnant with my fifth baby, due around the end of June. When the baby was born too soon and did not survive, I was not in the mood for celebration and stayed quietly at home trying to recover. As weeks went by someone suggested it might be cheering for me to go after all, especially since Stoker {Marquess of Hartington] was to be page to Moucher and carry her coronet during the procession. To allow Stoker to take such a prominent role was a big concession on the part of the Earl Marshal, who was in charge: the minimum age for pages was twelve and Stoker was only just nine, but he was considered ‘reliable’. Moucher and Andrew encouraged me to go and I am so glad that they did. “Then came the problem of what to wear, as obviously Moucher was to have the robes that had been carefully put away by Granny Evie in 1937 after King George VI’s coronation. Chatsworth, as always, came to the rescue. There were a number of tin boxes containing old uniforms and other relics. In the vain hope of finding something for me, we started going through them and, lo and behold, from beneath a ton of tissue paper in the box that had held Moucher’s, appeared a second crimson peeress’s robe. The velvet is of exceptional quality, so soft your fingers hardly know they are touching it, and of such pure, brilliant crimson as to make you blink. Miraculously the robe fitted; we had found what we were searching for. But there was a hitch: unlike other peeresses’ robes it was cut off the shoulder. Moucher or Andrew asked the Queen’s permission for me to wear this irregular style and it was granted. Stoker wore the uniform last worn in 1911 at the coronation of George V, and it was not a bad fit. All was then plain sailing and the organization faultless. Stoker was whisked away to find his Granny, while I joined the female side of the congregation and Andrew the peers. I have never seen a photograph of the massed peeresses and it is a pity if there is none because, young and old, they made an extraordinarily beautiful sight. They had worked hard to look their best: the country ones had been to the bank to get out the family diamonds and the town ladies had spent early hours at the hairdresser with splendid results. Everyone was dressed alike (except for me with my bare shoulders) and the effect was like the chorus in a sumptuous film production.
All eyes were on the monarch, who was dedicating herself to the service of her people. When the Archbishop of Canterbury placed the crown on her head the peeresses put on their coronets and the sea of arms in white gloves rising in unison was unforgettable. The Abbey was lit for television cameras and the dimmest corners were visible for the first time. It was a spectacular and moving combination of splendour and solemnity, a bringing together of Church and State. It was a spectacular and moving combination of splendour and solemnity, a bringing together of Church and State. (I wondered what the Californian communists, my companions of the previous year, would have made of it all.) Moucher carried out her part to perfection. I had never seen her stand so straight before and it enhanced her beauty. Stoker was indeed reliable, except for one enormous yawn which happened to be caught by a photographer. I have no recollection of what happened to us afterwards, how we got home or how we spent the rest of the day, but I was keenly aware of my good fortune at being in the Abbey with history being made in front of my eyes.”

[colinp]

No doubt in 15 years or so we will be wondering whether there are any survivors of the 1953 Coronation.  To give us a head start in answering that question I set out below the pages and trainbearers listed in the account of the Coronation as set out in the London Gazette 17 Nov 1953 (40020) with some identifications and whether or not they are still alive.  Some I have been unable to identify.  These are likely to have been the youngest people present at the Coronation apart of course from some of the boy choristers in the choirs which took part in the ceremony (this would also apply to the 1937 Coronation).  Unfortunately, the peers who were present and who made their homage are not listed unlike the similar account of the 1937 Coronation in the Gazette. 

 HRH the Princess Royal: Train – Hon Mrs Forbes [Hon Rosemary Katharine nee Hamilton-Russell, dau of 9th Viscount Boyne] b 1921 d 2019; Coronet – The Master of Forbes, son and ha of the 21st Lord Forbes b 1918, succ as 22nd Lord 1953, d 2013

HRH the Duchess of Gloucester: Train – Lady Caroline Gilmour [nee Montagu Douglas Scott, dau of 8th Duke of Buccleuch] b 1927 d 2004; Coronet – Earl of Dalkeith b 1923, son and ha to the 8th Duke of Buccleuch, succ as 9th Duke 1973, d 2007

HRH the Duchess of Kent: Train – Lady [Mary] Rachel Davidson [nee Fitzalan-Howard, dau of 15th Duke of Norfolk, later Pepys] b 1905 d 1992; Coronet – [Alan] Philip Hay CVO [later KCVO] b 1918 d 1986

HRH Princess Alexandra of Kent [LIVING]: Train – Hon Katharine [Patricia] Smith [dau of 3rd Viscount Hambledon, later Moffat, then Townend] b 1933 d 2002

HRH the Duke of Kent [LIVING]: Page - Hon Henry Herbert b 1939, grandson of 15th Earl of Pembroke, succ as 17th Earl 1969, d 2003

HRH Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone: Train – Mrs James [Muriel Decima] Mure [nee Hone] b c1884 d 1965; Coronet – Richard Abel Smith, b 1933, grandson, d 2004

Lady Patricia Ramsay: Train – Hon [later Lady] Gillian Cecil [grdau of 5th Marquess of Exeter, later Floyd then Kertesz, then Smith] b 1935 d 2022; Coronet – Capt Alexander Ramsay [of Mar], b 1919, son, d 2000

Maj-Gen the Earl of Athlone: Page – Gerald Ward b 1938, scion of the Earls of Dudley, d 2008

HRH Princess Marie Louise: Train – Mrs Hugh Adams NOT IDENTIFIED

HRH Princess Margaret: Train – Miss [later Hon] Iris Peake [dau of 1st Viscount Ingleby, later Dawnay] b 1923 d 2021; Coronet – [Michael] Albemarle Bowes-Lyon b 1940, grandson of the 14th Earl of Strathmore, LIVING

Lt-Col the Earl of Airlie, Lord Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother: Page – Robert [David] Ramsay b 1942, scion of the Ramsay of Balmain Baronets, LIVING

The Dowager Duchess of Northumberland, Mistress of the Robes to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother: Page - Lord James Douglas-Hamilton b 1942, son of the 14th Duke of Hamilton, briefly 11th Earl of Selkirk 1994 then LP Lord Selkirk of Douglas 1997, LIVING

Pages of Honour to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother:

-          Jonathan [Sidney] Peel b 1937, gt grandson of 1st Viscount Peel, d 2014

-          Michael Anson b 1937, scion of the Earls of Lichfield, d 2019

-          Viscount Carlow b 1938, grandson of the 6th Earl of Portarlington, succ as 7th Earl 1959, LIVING

-          The [6th] Earl Erne b 1937 d 2015

HRH the Duke of Gloucester: Page – Charles Brook – NOT IDENTIFIED – possibly Charles Groves Danvers Brook b 1940 (?) son of AVM William Arthur Darville Brook d 1953 – an RAF connection of the Duke?

The Earl of Halifax, Chancellor of the Order of the Garter: Page – Benedick Peake, NOT IDENTIFIED – possibly a relation of Iris Peake, Trainbearer to Princess Margaret?

The Lord Harlech, Bearer of the Standard of the Principality of Wales: Page – Julian [Hugh] Ormsby-Gore b 1940, grandson, d 1974

The Lord De L’Isle and Dudley, Bearer of the Standard of the Ireland Quartering of the Royal Arms: Page – George Jeffreys b 1939, grandson of 1st Baron Jeffreys, d 2010

The Earl of Derby, Bearer of the Standard of the England Quartering of the Royal Arms: Page – Viscount Trowley [vere Throwley] b 1940, son of the 4th Earl Sondes, succ as 5th and last Earl 1970, d 1996

The Earl of Dundee, Bearer of the Scotland Quartering of the Royal Arms: Page – Christopher [James] Makins b 1942, son of the future 1st Baron Sherfield, succ as 2nd Baron 1996, d 2006

The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, Bearer of the Royal Standard: Page – Nicholas Wright, NOT IDENTIFIED (there are photos of them on the Internet)

****

Four Knights of the Garter bearing the Canopy for the Anointing:

The Viscount Allendale: Page – Hon George Beaumont b 1938, son, d 1960

The Earl Fortescue: Page – Viscount Chewton b 1940, son of the 12th Earl Waldegrave, succ as 13th Earl 1995, LIVING

The Duke of Wellington: Page – Michael Clyde b 1941, grandson, LIVING (?)

The Duke of Portland: Page – Hon [Leslie] Bruce Hacking b 1940, son of 2nd Baron Hacking, LIVING

****

The Earl of Scarbrough, Lord Chamberlain: Page – David [Fraser] McEwen b 1938, son of Sir John McEwen 1st Bt, d 1976

The Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, Lord Steward: Page – Marquess of Clydesdale b 1938, son and ha, succ as 15th Duke 1973, d 2010

The Lord Simonds, Lord High Chancellor: Pursebearer – T Cokayne NOT IDENTIFIED; Page – Andrew [Henry] Parker-Bowles b 1939, grandson of Sir Humphrey de Trafford 4th Bt, LIVING

HRH the Duke of Edinburgh: Page - Midshipman NG [Nigel Grier-] Rees b 1934/5 d 1973

The Earl of Ancaster, Bearer of St Edward’s Staff: Page – George [John] Aird b 1940, son and ha od Sir John Aird 3rd Bt and Extra Equerry, succ as 4th Bt 1973, LIVING

Marshal of the RAF the Viscount Portal of Hungerford, Bearer of the Sceptre with the Cross: Page – Winston Spencer-Churchill b 1940, grandson of Prime Minister, d 2010

The Lord Churston, Bearer of a Golden Spur: Page - Hon William [Wellesley] Grosvenor b 1942, son of 4th Baron Ebury, d 2002

The Lord Hastings, Bearer of a Golden Spur: Page – Philip [Bertram] Gurdon b 1940, grandson and ha of 2nd Baron Cranworth, succ as 3rd Baron 1964, LIVING

The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, Bearer of the Sword of Temporal Justice: Page – Charles [John] Dawnay b 1938, nephew, LIVING

The Duke of Northumberland, Bearer of Curtana: Page – Edward [Hervey?] Elwes b Mar 1941 ??? [Companies House] TO BE VERIFIED

The Earl of Home, Bearer of the Sword of Spiritual Justice: Page – Lord Dunglass b 1943, son and ha of the 14th Earl of Home, succ as 15th Earl 1975, LIVING

The Marquess of Cholmondeley, Lord Great Chamberlain: Page – the [2nd] Viscount Ullswater b 1942 LIVING

The Earl of Shrewsbury, Lord High Steward of Ireland: Page – John [Vaughan] Chetwynd-Talbot b 1941, kinsman, LIVING

Lord Kilmarnock, deputy to the Lord High Constable of Scotland: Page – Hon Robin Boyd b 1941, son, succ as 8th Baron 2009, LIVING

The Earl of Crawford and Balcarres, deputy to the Great Steward of Scotland: Page – Hon Thomas {Richard] Lindsay b 1937, son, d 2020

The Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal: Page – Duncan [Henry] Davidson b 1941, nephew, LIVING; Page – Hon James [Reginald] Drummond b 1938, son of 17th Earl of Perth, LIVING

The Marquess of Salisbury, Bearer of the Sword of State: Page – Hugh [Peniston] Cecil b 1941, nephew, d 2020 [though Wikipedia identifies Hugh Cecil as William Hugh Amherst Cecil later 4th Baron Amherst of Hackney though in that case the Gazette omitted his “Hon”]

The Viscount Alanbrooke, Lord High Constable of England: Page – Henry [Neville Lindley] Keswick b 1938 LIVING; Page – Charles [Anthony Selby] McCreery b 1942, descended from the 14th Duke of Somerset, LIVING

The Duke of Richmond and Gordon, Bearer of the Rod with the Dove: Page – Simon Benton-Jones b 1941, son and ha of Sir Peter Benton Jones 3rd Bt, succ as 4th Bt 1972, d 2016

The Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope, Lord High Steward bearing St Edward’s Crown: Pages – Julian [Alexander Ludovic] James b 1939 LIVING?; Martin Brett NOT IDENTIFIED

FM the Earl Alexander of Tunis, Bearer of the Orb: Page – Hon Brian Alexander b 1939, son, LIVING

The Dowager Duchess of Devonshire, Mistress of the Robes: Marquess of Hartington b 1944, grandson, succ as 12th Duke of Devonshire 2004, LIVING

Six Maids of Honour:

-          Lady Jane Vane-Tempest-Stewart b 1932, dau of 8th Marquess of Londonderry, later Baroness Rayne, then Lacey, LIVING

-          Lady Anne Coke b 1932, dau of 5th Earl of Leicester, later Baroness Glenconnor, LIVING

-          Lady Moyra Hamilton b 1930, dau of 4th Duke of Abercorn, later Campbell-Grove, d 2020

-          Lady Mary Baillie-Hamilton b 1934, dau of the 12th Earl of Haddington, later Bailey then Russell, LIVING

-          Lady Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby b 1934, dau of 3rd Earl of Ancaster, succ as Baroness Willoughby de Eresby 1983, LIVING

-          Lady Rosemary Spencer-Churchill b 1929, dau of 10th Duke of Marlborough, later Muir LIVING

The Duke of Beaufort, Master of the Horse: Page – Ruben [vere Reuben Charles] Harford b 1942 LIVING?

The Earl of Stair, Captain General of the Queen’s Bodyguard for Scotland: Page – Lord Montgomerie b 1939, son and ha of 17th Earl of Eglinton, succ as 18th Earl 1966, d 2018

The Earl of Eldon, Lord in Waiting: Page – Hon Simon Scott b 1939, son, d 2009

The Earl of Onslow, Captain of the Yeoman of the Guard: Page – Michael Hare b 1938, son and ha of future 1st Viscount Blakenham, succ as 2nd Viscount 1982, d 2018

The Lord Tryon, Keeper of HM Privy Purse: Page – Hon Anthony Tryon b 1940, son and ha, succ as 3rd Baron 1976, d 2018

Capt the Lord Plunkett, Equerry: Page – the [5th] Marquess of Dufferin and Ava b 1938 d 1988

[David Beamish]

As regards the choirboys: a list of musicians present is at https://www.westminster-abbey.org/media/5251/elizabeth-ii-coronation-1953-musicians.pdf

The trebles are listed on pages 4 to 6. "Wallace, W. J. L." on page 4 is now Lord Wallace of Saltaire.

See also https://www.countrylife.co.uk/comment-opinion/curious-questions-what-is-it-like-to-sing-at-a-royal-coronation-in-westminster-abbey-243804 for a recent article featuring some of the choristers.

[colinp]

Thanks very much.  One of them was featured on the recent Ch4 documentary Secrets of the Queen's Coronation - not that many secrets were divulged

[BREMENMURRAY]

Will the next Coronation be as elaborate as 1953 now that most Peers do not sit in the House of Lords?Also with the general decline in church attendance in recent years will the ceremony be curtailed ?

[S R Eglesfield]

The trainbearer to HH Princess Marie Louise (N.B. she was not a Royal Highness) at the 1937 and 1953 coronations, Mrs Hugh ADAMS (1873 - 21 X 1955), was her friend and Lady-in-Waiting, who had been born as (Margaret Mary) Evelyn WILLS, of that family of tobacco merchants.

Mrs Adams was the second daughter of Stephen Prust WILLS (1847 - 20 VI 1922), who was a step-brother of Sir Edward Payson WILLS, 1st Bt of Hazelwood, KCB, JP (12 VI 1834 - 13 III 1910) and Sir Frederick WILLS, 1st Bt of Northmoor (22 XI 1838 - 18 II 1909), the latter being the father of the 1st Baron Dulverton.

Mrs Adams' husband (married 1902), Hugh ADAMS (1863 - 18 V 1928), was a member of the Coode-Adams of Sampford Grange landed gentry family.

[colinp]

Thanks - HRH was a silly slip

[Henry W]

The Earl of Halifax, Chancellor of the Order of the Garter: Page – Benedick Peake, NOT IDENTIFIED – possibly a relation of Iris Peake, Trainbearer to Princess Margaret?

I have now identified Benedick Peake.

A check of ancestry for a person of this name gives only 3 results: all electoral registers from 1963 to 1965 incl.  In the 1963 register he is living with Lady Catherine PEAKE.  BMD searches show that she was Catherine Marie KNIGHT and m 1926 Sir Charles Brinsley Pemberton Peake GCMG MC (1897 - 1958).  Wikipedia records (without citation) that they had 4 sons.  Careful BMD / GRO checks elucidate that one of these sons was Robert Brinsley Benedick PEAKE, born 1940; he died in 1999.

[George]

The list can be updated to record the recent death of the 15th Earl of Home, if it has not already been.

[S R Eglesfield]

Benedick Peake's 3 x greats-grandfather was Richard PEAKE (1757 - 10 I 1829), who was Treasurer of Drury Lane Theatre in London for over forty years, and a friend and protégé of playwright and politician Richard Brinsley SHERIDAN. Sheridan stood as sponsor at the baptism of Richard Peake's eldest son, Richard Brinsley PEAKE (19 II 1792 - 4 X 1847), who himself became a playwright. His brother, Charles PEAKE (25 VII 1793 - 2 I 1847), was Benedick Peake's great-great-grandfather.

[gorgo...@gmail.com]

King Charles trying to run off with the Imperial Crown when he was four is just one of the glorious memories ROBERT HARDMAN reveals after his unique lunch with the Maids of Honour and page boys from the Queen's Coronation 70 years ago
...A Coronation Reunion Lunch was held at Bentleys Restaurant in London. The lunch was attended by Guests from the 1937 Coronation with Pages and Maids of Honour at the 1953 Coronation. 1. Brian Alexander, 2. James Drummond, 3. Jeremy Clyde, 4. Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles, 5. Julian JamesFront Row: Left to Rt: 1. Sir Simon Bowes Lyon, 2. Lady Rosemary Muir. 3. Lady Glenconner. 4. The Earl of Airlie....
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/royals/article-11974489/ROBERT-HARDMAN-shares-unique-lunch-royal-entourage-Queens-Coronation.html

[Henry W]

I have compiled the list of those still living or not identified into a Google Doc:

Known survivors of the 1953 coronation

Many thanks to Colin P and David Beamish who made this possible!  Any corrections / updates / additions gratefully received!

[pyvery]

The Ear of Home died not so long ago

[BREMENMURRAY]

Over a year now

[colinp]

The Times and the Telegraph both carry obituaries of Jack Bamford GC who, aged 15, saved his brothers from a blazing bedroom in 1952.  He was the youngest ever GC recipient until 1971 when holders of the Albert and Edward Medals exchanged them for GC's at which point the distinction passed to David Western who had received the AM at age 11.  The reason I mention this is that the Telegraph obituary says he was given two tickets to attend the Coronation when he was aged 16, presumably along with the other VC/GC holders

[Henry W]

https://www.monmouthshirebeacon.co.uk/news/100th-birthday-celebrations-sparks-memories-of-1953-coronation-614610

As the British monarchy heralds a new era, a former Abergavenny women, now Monmouth centenarian, has shared her memories of attending Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953 during a special birthday celebration.

Wenllian Hacket Pain, affectionally known as Wenks, turned 100-years-old on Monday 8 May - when the UK held a bank holiday to mark the Coronation of King Charles III.

[...]

Wenllian HACKET PAIN was dau of Sir Godfrey Llewellyn, 1st Baronet (1893 - 1986)

[colinp]

The obituary of Thomas Holt, formerly with the King's Singers, which recently appeared in the Telegraph states that he sang in the choir at the 1953 Coronation.  These are the relevant extracts:

Anthony Holt, who has died aged 83, was one of the leading singers of his generation. A baritone, he combined a gifted natural vocal technique with sensitive interpretations, initially making his mark as a 12-year-old boy treble at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

As a youngster he learnt the piano and violin, but it was singing in his church choir that became Anthony’s passion. He attended the residential courses run by the Royal School of Church Music, and was one of the dozen boys chosen to represent the School at the Coronation in Westminster Abbey on June 2 1953; he had spent an intensive month rehearsing at the organisation’s then headquarters at Addington Palace, Croydon.

He was b 6 Nov 1940 and d 12 Jan 2024

Anthony Holt, a stalwart of the King’s Singers for two decades – obituary (telegraph.co.uk)

[colinp]

see also -  Coronation Choristers | Heritage Hub (herts.ac.uk)

[colinp]

The Duke of Wellington: Page – Michael Clyde b 1941, grandson, LIVING (?)

In fact Michael Clyde's full name is (Michael) Jeremy Thomas CLYDE b 22 March 1941 and wikipedia describes him as English actor and musician

Jeremy Clyde - Wikipedia

[colinp]

Article about Robert David Ramsay, page to the Earl of Airlie at the 1953 Coronation with his reminiscences

Platinum jubilee: Retired Angus farmer shares memories of being pageboy at the Queen's Coronation - The Courier