ON Wednesday, May 12, 1937 the front page of the Adver was devoted to the biggest story in the world.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were crowned at Westminster Abbey after the greatest royal crisis of modern times.

George’s elder brother, Edward VIII, had reigned for only 326 days following the death of their father, George V, but had never been crowned.

Edward famously abdicated rather than split from American divorcee Wallis Simpson, who was deemed an unsuitable consort by the Church and Establishment.

On Coronation day we wrote: “The King is crowned. With all the symbolical centuries-old ritual the solemn ceremonial was performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Abbey Church of Westminster today.

“Queen Elizabeth, winsome and gracious, watched and waited her own anointing and crowning.”

As with most royal occasions before and since, we were sure to include local news among the words and pictures sent from London.

Bells were rung in celebration at Christ Church, children from the Ferndale Road area were given a tea party at the All Saints Parish Hall in Southbrook Street and there was a gun salute in the Town Gardens.

At the Coronation Day wedding of Miss Phyllis Gosling of Whiteman Street and George Mabberley of Belle Vue Road in Christ Church, bridesmaid Joyce Godding, the Swindon Carnival Queen, wore a red, white and blue dress.

Services were held in most churches and there were parties, teas, fireworks displays and performances by brass bands, silver bands, singers and novelty acts.

We said: “As an expression of loyalty and in commemoration of the Coronation, the Deputy Mayor of Swindon, Ald. Mrs May George, planted a cedar tree in the grounds of Swindon’s new municipal offices at Princes Street this afternoon.”

Beacons were lit across the area, and in Cricklade an entire ox was roasted for revellers.

The Adver sent photographers to record audiences packing the stands of the County Ground, site of a long programme of entertainments, and to various street parties.

Typical was the one in Cross Street, where balloons flew and bunting and Union Jacks were strung across the road between terraced houses.

On Coronation Day nearly a quarter of the front page was taken up by an expensive advert for Kensitas cigarettes.

Smoking would be a major factor in the King’s death in 1952, aged just 56.