On Saturday May 10th 1902 a meeting of Redlingfield Parish Committee was held in the School Room to decide how best to celebrate the Coronation of “His Gracious Majesty King Edward VII”.
The Committee “resolved to have a feast for all inhabitants with sports in the afternoon, and a concert in the evening to finish with a bonfire on the hill towards Southolt”. This all depended on enough funds being collected.
Another meeting was called for Friday May 6th to arrange the feast:
Mr Gray (landlord of the Crown) to find all necessary groceries – tea, tobacco, flour and mineral water; Mrs Gray to make plum puddings; It was proposed that two joints of mutton as well as the “necessary” quantity of beef and suet for the puddings should be ordered. “The most part of the beef to be salt”; Messrs. Young & Co. to supply one barrel of ale; Tea to be provided for the ladies and “those wishing for it”; Mr. Goldspink (farmer at Green Farm) to supply 10 lbs of butter; Mr J. Coe (wheelwright) to provide tables and seats and make a platform for the concert which was to be held in the Hall Barn.
Next came a meeting on June 15th “to arrange procedures for June 26th” Coronation Day. Funds promised to the Committee came to £22 6s 6d [approx. £3,000 in 2022 terms]. A committee of ladies was also present. Various arrangements were made including a schedule for the consumption of the beer! Each gentleman was to have four-and-a-half pints – one at dinner, one for the King’s Health, half at four o’clock, one at seven o’clock and one at the close of the concert. George Cracknell (parish clerk) and Joseph Coe were to take charge of the beer.
So everything was organised when on June 25th (the day before the Coronation) this entry was written in the Minute Book – “Due to reports of the dangerous condition of the King, celebrations are postponed to an indefinite time. A dinner is to be held in the Hall Barn at three o’clock in the afternoon on account of the meat being spoiled.”
The King had appendicitis and was very ill. He did, of course, recover and the new date for the Coronation was August 9th 1902. Now there was to be “a plain tea of bread, butter, cheese, cakes, buns and tea”. One pint of beer was allocated to each man and nuts and sweets were to be given to the children. Sports would take place before and after the tea. Mr Gray was to provide the tea and “all that would be required” and charge the Committee.
Accounts for the tea and sports were discussed on December 6th 1902. There was a remaining balance of 13 shillings which was to be given to “certain deserving persons” in the Parish.

Linda Hudson (Published in Athelington, Horham & Redlingfield News Autumn 2018 issue No 43).