Ilkeston - Coronation
w/e 30 April 2023
All of this week's pictures were taken with a Nikon D3300
With the upcoming coronation
of King Charles III less than a week away I think I can safely
say that the event has divided opinion. Whilst many are wholeheartedly
looking forward to the day, others are more concerned with the
cost of living crisis and are understandably concerned about
the expense of the coronation. In Ilkeston preparations have
been taking place but they seem to be much more low key and muted
than for similar celebrations such as the late Queen's Platinum
Jubilee last year.
In the town centre bunting has been strung across South Street
on the approach to the Market Place.
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In a corner of the Market Place, there is also bunting draped
across the front of the Sir John Warren but there is none visible
of The King's Head opposite despite its name.
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The bunting continues across the Market Place but the opposite
opinions are perhaps also apparent in two more drinking establishments.
The Market Inn has gone to town with Union Flags across its frontage
but its neighbour, Shakers, has so far at least refrained from
such a display - but there's still time.
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The bunting continues down the top end of Bath Street but only
a handful of shops have window displays.
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These are a few of the shop window displays seen in South Street
and Bath Street.
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In the Albion Centre office suppliers and stationery store Rymans
have displays both in the window and inside the shop. They appear
to have a large supply of decorations and memorabilia and are
probably hoping for a surge of customers to relieve them of some
of their stock. I do find though, the masks with white card showing
through where there are holes for the eyes to be quite menacing!
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As well as the business in the town centre, some residential
properties have also been decorated with flags and bunting but
they are few and far between. The England flags (bottom right)
could well be a St George's Day celebration that has been left
up for the coronation.
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As well as the bunting, the flags and the other decorations that
have been erected, banners proclaiming the county is celebrating
the coronation have been installed on lighting columns by Derbyshire
County Council. In the past Kings have been honoured by having
streets named after them, for example King George Avenue and
here pictured above, another that could refer to any King, the
one size fits all King Street. Time alone will tell whether any
new development honours the new King by naming a street after
him.
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If the King ever does undertake a nationwide tour of the UK,
we could even see "Charles Close" to the town and maybe
he would even visit here.
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But as he prepares for his coronation next weekend, he'll probably
need to ensure the crown will fit. It's unlikely though that
he will travel to Ilkeston for a haircut.
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