By Royal Invitation

As this year's big moment at Westminster Abbey approaches, Andrew Green meets some of the choristers who sang at the coronation of Elizabeth II back in 1953

- Andrew Green

The official list of musicians for the 1953 coronation service at Westminster Abbey includes 182 boy choristers. Most came from the choirs of Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral, the Chapels Royal and St George's Chapel, Windsor. Overall, though, the geographical net spread far wider, not least to choristers selected via the Royal School of Church Music - only 20 such boys, but representing far-flung parts of Britain.

The 1953 RSCM choristers who survive have some of the most colourful stories to tell. Their narratives form one magical dimension in the University of Hertfordshire’s current ‘Choristers of the Coronation’ oral history project. Such choristers, who had no expectation of a coronation call-up, were selected in a variety of ways. Stanley Roocroft MBE learned he’d been chosen from his choirmaster at Blackburn Cathedral. ‘He called me in after a service and I thought, “Hello… am I in trouble? What have I done now?” And he said, “Next Sunday morning, I’d like you and your parents to see me after the service.” It was then he told us I was being invited to sing at the coronation. I was very surprised, obviously, but delighted and excited.’

Graham Neal, who sang with the choir of All Saints Parish Church at Eastleigh, near Southampton, recalls being ‘absolutely over the moon’ at his selection. As with many of the chosen RSCM choristers, one of the excitements was being pursued by the local press. ‘It wasn’t long before reporters started knocking on the door,’ says Neal. ‘You were a sort of minicelebrity. While out shopping people would stop me and say, “Are you Graham Neal?” A massive photograph of me was placed in a shop window.’