File consists of records pertaining to the Appleby College Coronation Choir. The school Chapel Choir, under the direction of Choir Master E. Leslie Bott, was invited to perform at the Commonwealth Youth Movement Service as part of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953. Appleby College was one of a select few Canadian groups invited to attend this event. In addition to performing at the June 7, 1953 Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey, which was recorded, the choir performed a total of nineteen full concerts during their six weeks in Great Britain.
In addition to this, they sang at Services in nine Parish Churches, performed in five Public Schools and made two appearances on the BBC. The Appleby College Coronation Choir performed at the Cathedrals of Winchester, Chichester, St. Mary's (Edinburgh), Yorkminster and St. Albans and also sang a special Service of Dedication for Commonwealth Youth - At St. George's Chapel, Windsor, on June 1st.
In between singing, the group was able to tour around England and Scotland, and were in the stands during the actual Coronation ceremony on June 2nd, 1953. The group was also invited to attend the Changing of the Guard ceremony in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace on the day the Canadian Regiments took over.
Thirty years after the Choir performed, they held a reunion in 1983 at Appleby College and performed as a group once again.
File consists of the following sub-files: Correspondence; Itinerary and Financial Statements; Travel Documents; Performances; Coronation Memorabilia; Newspaper Clippings; Reunion Material.