Ox being roasted for celebrations of Coronation of George VI, 1937

For the coronation of King George VI there was a whole oxen spit- roasted on the Recreation Ground.  My dad was involved with that. It was started one day and went on being cooked all night ready for when everyone came. Eileen Smith nee Lansdowne b 1921

The ox roast was at the back of the Rec. We were given a slab of meat between two slices of bread. It wasn’t a dainty sandwich but it tasted all right. Pat Burt and Annette Haynes b 1929

Ugh, the smell was terrible! The whole town stank of burning fat for days. No, I didn’t have any! Pauline Hatch b 1930