Knutsford scraps plans to televise coronation on big screen

Knutsford Town Council was considering televising the ceremony live from Westminster Abbey on Saturday, May 6 at an outdoor venue.

But members fear this could be costly and problematic if it rains or the equipment fails.

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Councillors discussed how the town could celebrate the historic occasion at a town council meeting.

Cllr Stewart Gardiner said: “We’ve got to make sure that the quality we’re getting is going to be good so people don’t start walking away from it saying: ‘I might as well stay at home watching it.’

“My friends watched the Queen’s funeral on large screens in Hyde Park. Visuals were wonderful, audios not so.

“We need to be mindful that if it goes wrong, it will be our fault even if we pay somebody else to do it for us.”

Unpredictable weather or unexpected illness of the King, he said, could also pose difficulties.

“If we’re going to spend public money, we need to ensure that we are not caught out,” said Cllr Gardiner.

“If the event has to be cancelled for any reason.

“His majesty is a man of advancing years. The possibility of him being taken ill is not unthinkable.

“His great great grandfather’s coronation had to be cancelled because he had appendicitis and was operated on. The ceremony was postponed by three months.

“If we’re going to invest in such an expensive system, we need to make sure we are covered.”

Suggestions to present children with a royal keepsake were welcomed.

Councillors are planning to organise events to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III (Image: PA)

The council’s volunteer archivists have discovered that in 1953, various events were held in the town to celebrate the coronation of the late Queen Elizabeth.

Pupils were given souvenir beakers and a silver crown was presented to every child born on the day of the coronation.

A children and adult sports day was held, trees were planted and council offices were floodlit.

An essay competition and exhibition of ‘articles analogous to the coronation’ were organised.

Coloured sanding designs decorated the streets.

Community singing, a bonfire and fireworks display marked a grand finale to the celebration.

Cllr Neil Forbes said: “I’d like to have something to do with the community and plant trees.”

Councillors decided not to have a big screen and referred the matter of organising the town’s coronation celebrations back to the events committee for further consideration.