We have two pink horse chestnuts by the Pond in Aldbourne, one dates from 1935 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of George V, and another sapling was ceremoniously planted in 1937 to mark the coronation of George VI. Sadly, the later tree didn’t thrive and has been replaced at least once in the intervening years.
I remember Wally Palmer telling me about the trees by the Bus Shelter and Pond House, planted for two Kings. The tree by Pond House may have died and been replaced in 1938; however, if you take a look at the BBC film Village in the Downs (1967) there’s some great footage of Wilf Jerram chatting to Desmond Hawkins. The tree in the film certainly doesn’t look that old so perhaps the smaller horse chestnut we have now was planted in the 1950s or 1960s.
Looking back to 1937, the two oldest children at the village school wielded the spades and then went on to enjoy the sports. Beryl Perrett did particularly well, placing second in the Girls under 14 race. Many thanks to John Brown for confirming the location of the Coronation Field in 1937, and for sharing his recollections of a very good tea.
Jo Hutchings - Aldbourne Archive 