Street Party Date Please

[farmeroman]

This is a street party in Chester Road, Seven Kings, Ilford, Essex at the junction of Spencer Road to the right. My grandfather, Howard Kent, is standing in the road to the left of the table in a dark suit and was likely the organiser (the table is outside his house, number 81) . Am I correct in assuming that this is a VE party in 1945 (my grandfather woudl have been 47) or could it be later, say the coronation in 1953? Clothing experts please...

I wonder if the brick structure in the road could be a bomb shelter, which would of course help confirm the date and put it at the end of the war rather than in the early fifties.

[KGarrad]

I would guess Coronation?

Not sure, but I don't think there were children's street parties for VE-Day?
Partly due to rationing; partly due to the time needed to organise such a party?

Also, I don't think that's a bomb shelter, as they were built underground.

I still remember the Anderson shelter in my grandmother's back garden!
And that would have been some 20 years after the war!!

[Ruskie]

Is it a bit unusual that there are only children at the tables? For either VE day or the Coronation wouldn't there be flags or bunting of some sort?

[JenB]

Not sure, but I don't think there were children's street parties for VE-Day?

My husband hates to admit it  but he can clearly remember attending a VE party in Camden Town.

[Seoras]

Tend to agree with KG that it's more likely the Coronation as I would expect to perhaps see a couple of uniforms if it was VE day. Then again I am bit wary with the lack of flags and bunting seen in so many Coronation street parties.

[jan57]

 If you  put   VE street  parties in G**Gle    it  comes  up  with lots of references including  photos ,  so it  could be VE celebrations ,  One   item I  was reading refers to   ' everyone   helped with  food '  and  refering to  ' butter rations  being  mixed with  something else ( can't recall  what) to  make  it go further '

[farmeroman]

Also, I don't think that's a bomb shelter, as they were built underground.

I still remember the Anderson shelter in my grandmother's back garden!

Apparently there were some surface shelters built in streets for passing pedestrians to take shelter in. I agree that they wouldn't offer much protection in the case of a direct hit, but then again I doubt that Anderson shelters would either, some of which were also built on the surface.

I wonder what is was if it wasn't a shelter of some kind though?

[Gadget]

Women's clothes are more 1945 than 1953 

[KGarrad]

I defer to the superior knowledge of RC experts!

After all, I wasn't born until after the Coronation!
Well, 20 days after, but I still missed it!