The Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary was held at Westminster Abbey on 22 June 1911.
On 15 October 1908, while staying with the Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury at Wimborne St. Giles, Queen Mary, then the Princess of Wales, was the first member of the royal family to visit Sherborne School.
The editorial in the June 1911 issue of The Shirburnian proclaimed: ‘Surely no Coronation in the world’s history has ever evoked so much interest as that of His Majesty King George V, and it is with considerable fear of imprisonment that we bring out the present issue without the inevitable red, white, and blue cover’.
The editors went on to apologise for not having included a photograph of the King as a frontispiece, but trusted that their readers were sufficiently acquainted with the Royal features ‘and those who are not by now familiar with them we advise to go to the nearest shop and buy the first article on which they set eyes, whereon they will find printed, stamped, or engraved a ‘striking likeness’ of His Majesty, moreover executed in colours so superlatively sublime, and yet superbly subdued as to ingratiate the article at once with the least artistic mind.’
In conclusion, the editors wished to remind their readers ‘that the Coronation is no mere happy chance for a few days off, but the solemn ratification of the great office which alone unites our vast dominions, and that it is the duty of every intelligent subject, particularly members of our great Public Schools, to realise that we are each individually responsible by our actions, for the welfare of the largest and perhaps most fairly won Empire that the world has yet seen.’
Twelve boys were selected from Sherborne School’s OTC – apparently for their martial appearance and their large size – to assist with lining the streets during the Coronation processions and were fortunate to be stationed by the Palace Gates. In spite of having spent a tiring day in London, the boys’ rendition of the Carmen could be heard at a considerable distance on their return march from Sherborne station to the School! Later, on 3 July 1911, 178 members of the School’s OTC with five officers and Sergeant-Major G.W.H. Wood, attended the Royal Review by George V at Windsor Great Park.
The Rev. Henry King (housemaster of Abbeylands 1900-1919), recorded in his diary the events of Coronation day in Sherborne:
‘Cloudy: some rain: windy. CORONATION DAY. Service at 9 in chapel which I took. Afterwards the House went where they liked with lunch. Had a delicious quiet day. Went at 4pm to Sigwell Farm where we had House tea picnic. Breezy not unpleasant. Walked along the tops, afterwards rode by Compton Pauncefoot. Evening. Fireworks, Bonfires etc.’
Three years later, on 11 June 1914, the Rev. Henry King noted in his diary: ‘Fiendish women try and destroy the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abbey.’ This referred to damage caused to the Coronation Chair when suffragettes placed a bomb underneath it. The damage was, however, relatively slight and in preparation for the Coronation of King Charles III on 6 May 2023 the Coronation Chair was undergone extensive restoration.
Rachel Hassall
Archivist, Sherborne School
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