The more eagle eyed viewer watching the King’s Coronation in London today may have spotted a Blantyre connection! The Royal processions and guests in Westminster Abbey directly passed over David Livingstone’s grave inside the Abbey. Nearby is the memorial for Churchill and the well known tomb of the Unknown Warrior surrounded by flowers. When you […]
It doesn’t happen very often, but today Saturday 6th May, a new monarch has their Coronation Day. We’re getting into the spirit of things today, with auld Blantyre photos. One Blantyre Project reader told me, “My name is Giovanna Mandel and my mom, Catherine Miller was born and raised in Blantyre on Priory Street after […]
Following the death of Queen Victoria, the next Monarch to rule was Edward VII. In August 1902, Britain celebrated the coronation of the new ruler and Blantyre took part with its own events and tributes. On Saturday 9th August 1902, Blantyre had organised its own events to mark the occasion. These were generally in the […]
A previously unseen photo of Main Street, High Blantyre. To put this in context, the tenement you see is now the Shanghai Wok. I think this is likely 1953, during the Queen’s Coronation. Union Jack flags are on the buildings and strung across the street. D&R Ritchie Joiners and Glazers is the sign on the […]
Alice McConachie shared this brilliant photo of children enjoying the Queen’s Coronation at a part in 1953. It was taken at the bottom of Priory Street, Blantyre. Alice told me, “My mum Alice Wright (nee Maxwell) is the lady on the right hand side. My brother James Wright is in the second back row on the right […]
Alicejan Sweeney messaged me recently saying, “My mum found a photo of the Priory Street Coronation Party. My mum Elizabeth Sweeney (Wright) is the baby in the 2nd back row wearing a bonnet. My Uncle Iain Wright is to the right of her, my gran Alice Wright (Maxwell) is the lady standing on the right, […]
Next up is a 1953 coronation party photo featuring many children at Priory Street. Margaret Campbell shared this lovely family photo saying, “Looking at the photo, I’m at the front 3rd from the right. My brother Duncan next to me, behind me is my eldest brother Robert, next to him on the left is […]