Forres woman (88) was a happy teenager during Queen's Coronation celebrations with her Bogton Road neighbours in 1953

A Forres pensioner has shared some happy memories of local celebrations during the last UK coronation on June 2, 1953.

Jean Alexander (88) of 10 Tailwel was just 18 when the Bogton community pooled their resources and threw a party at the Drill Hall on Victoria Road.

She said: "The hall was decked out in red, white and blue, and everyone there wore red, white and blue clothing. Many of us also had crowns on while we were jumping about!

"It was a marvellous day - I'll never forget it."

Jean moved to Bogton Road, AKA 'Shanghai', with her parents and seven brothers fifteen years before Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was crowned Elizabeth II.

"The houses at Bogton have been up a very long time!," she said. "I think it got the nickname Shanghai because at the time China was first to have double houses with stairs up to the top ones.

"Back then, it was full of families with young children who had previously been in near-derelict housing. Our community was poor but we helped each other out."

The Shanghai-ers raised the money for their own coronation party by holding whist drives in each other's houses.

"We bought party food and drink like sausage rolls, ice cream and jelly with the proceeds," said Jean. "A piper played at the party and Mrs Hay of Tulloch Park also played piano.

"There were a couple of hundred folk there and there was a great atmosphere - everyone was really happy."

However, very few of the attendees - if any - witnessed the coronation itself.

"There was no telly," explained Jean. "Not many folk had them then but we saw plenty of pictures in the newspapers.

"Some of the kids at the drill hall were disappointed they didn't actually get to meet the queen on the day!"

Jean remembers the majority of people in Forres being pro-monarchy and a visit to Grant Park by Queen Elizabeth in August 1961.

She said: "Everyone loved the royal family back then. They were wonderful looking people. We learned all about them in school and thought the world of them."

She finished: "I will watch this Saturday's coronation with my family and a glass of white wine!"