At the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on June 2, 1953, 26 Howick clubs and societies as a community activity planted a row of Canadian oak trees on the southern pathway up to the War Memorial from Ridge Road. Following the planting, we attended a civic ceremony to recognise our new Queen. This was followed by a free film show in the Monterey Theatre for the children. A rugby match was held on the Howick Domain, with a community fancy dress ball in the Howick Town Hall in the evening. Most shops in Howick had displays recognising the newly-crowned Queen.
As a schoolboy, I remember the celebrations and fun planting of the trees on Stockade Hill provided by the Howick Borough Council.
Alan La Roche
Howick Historian
