Stanway Art Club - SAC Blogs

Stanway Art Club

What is a blog? Well a blog (web-log) is an online platform where individuals publish written long-form content, known as posts, on various topics. Blogs can be personal, like a digital diary or professional, focusing on areas such as technology, fashion, travel or health.

On our About page, I invited members to come up with things that can be published on this website that may be of interest to others; not necessarily art related. Kerry Harris has suggested we have a blog page and has started the ball rolling by sending in his first blog. See what you think.

In 1953 I was a 14 year old Senior Scout and, as a Queen’s Scout, I was lucky enough to be chosen to sell programmes at the Coronation.

Early on the morning of 2nd June, dressed in my smartly pressed scout uniform, complete with shorts, shirt, scarf, woggle and ‘mounty’ style hat, I travelled from Leytonstone on the Central Line to Westminster, where we were to meet to be allocated our positions on the route.

I was fortunate to be allocated a position outside the West Door of Westminster Abbey, opposite which a whole bank of elevated seats had been erected for those visitors lucky enough, or rich enough, to acquire tickets for this prime position.

I, complete with my stock of programmes, was allowed to move up and down the stairs and along the rows to sell programmes to visitors from all over the world - and they all wanted to buy one. I had to return to base many times to replenish my stock - they were selling out so fast.

As an accredited programme seller, I had police permission to move anywhere in front of the barriers, and had a ‘front row position’ to see all the royalty and aristocrats making their way through the West Door to their seats inside.

As one might imagine, it was one of the most memorable experiences of my young life, all thanks to the Boy Scouts.

by Kerry Harris on June 2nd, 1953

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