Elderly folks will watch coronation on TV used for Queen’s 70 years ago

By Tom Bevan via SWNS

Care home residents will watch the Coronation on a TV bought for The Queen's - 70 years ago.

The pensioners will huddle around the tiny set on Saturday, just as many of them would have done nearly 70 years ago.

The antique black and white Defiant set was dusted off for the first time in decades for the Queen's funeral last year.

It was first used for an extended family to watch the Queen complete her accession to the throne in 1953 - and is now being brought back to life for her son's ceremony.

At the time, a group of around 17 people gathered at the home of Winifred and Ronald Dando in Midsomer Norton, Somerset, to witness the historic event.

The antique monitor had been in storage since the 1970s and for the last eight years has been owned by the couple's grandson Christopher Dando.

And a similar number will crowd around it for the at the Court House care home in Cheddar, Somerset, for the full broadcast this weekend.

Mr. Dando, 56, who is now a manager care home, said it was the perfect opportunity to bring it out of hiding.

He added: "The residents will be glued to the television to watch the coronation and the procession whilst enjoying a regal lunch next Saturday.

"I will put the old family TV set on display in them that was bought for the Queen's coronation 70 years ago by my grandparents.

"My dad, his family and many of the neighbors all gathered around the 9' TV screen.

"The Queen's coronation was a huge occasion where many families would watch television for the first time, many buying their first television sets especially for the occasion.

"The old fashioned TV set has sparked so much conversation and reminiscence amongst the residents as they recall their first viewings on a similar TV set as well as memories of where they were and how they celebrated the Queen's coronation in 1953.

"These memories for the residents was so important and really good for their mental, social and physical wellbeing."

The rest of the weekend will include further royal revelry in the shape of "Coronation Bingo" and "Pin the Crown on the King."

While Bank Holiday Monday will see a "Right Royal Street Party" which they hope to take place outside and their will also be a royal-themed singalong.

Mr. Dando added: "The residents have also been making decorations to brighten the home.

"The residents and the staff felt that it was so important to celebrate this very special event together as it was such an important moment in history."

Speaking about the history of the television, Mr. Dando said: "It was bought by my grandparents for the coronation - they watched it with all other family in the street on the day.

"My dad inherited it and just kept it in the loft, garage and shed, covered over with cloths.

"My dad died eight years ago and I have had it ever since. For years I've been thinking I really ought to get it out and do something with it.

"As it was bought for the coronation, I just thought this was the perfect time to get it out again and show it off to the residents.

"It is a Defiant model with a big mahogany box with two nobs on the front and one for contrast and a big speaker.

"My dad was 11 at the time of the coronation and remembered all the family gathered together to watch it. It was probably last used in the 1970s until we got it out for a public airing for the Queen's funeral last year."

The coronation saw an estimated 2.5 million television sets bought with each screen attracting around 17 viewers each.

Mr. Dando, who lives in Westbury-sub-Mendip, said his grandparents Winifred and Ronald Dando died in the 1980s and the set was inherited by his dad Brian.

He added: "My dad did not know what to do with it so kept it in the garage.

"It has moved from garage to garage and loft to loft throughout the years.

"It's a really old set up with lots of bulbs in it. It is all analogue rather than digital, but the screen fits an iPad in perfectly so we have slipped that into it."