THE Coronation celebrations in one part of Oxford went off with a bang – literally.

Fireworks flew in all directions as a group of drunks rolled out of the pub and took charge of lighting them.

The chaotic display of firepower took place in George Street, Cowley – now Hendred Street – in June 1953 as the country celebrated the Queen’s Coronation in Westminster Abbey.

Resident Paul Burgess writes: “A trestle table borrowed from the Salvation Army was set up in the street outside our house. Milk bottles were placed on top to put the rockets in.

“The first rocket was lit, took off with a great whoosh and soared into the sky, exploding with a great array of crackling stars.

“Some men in the street had been having a good time in the pub and being little under the influence, thought they would help light the fireworks.

“The large cardboard box containing the fireworks was under the table and the sparks from the rockets somehow got into the box, setting them all off at once!

“There was a loud fizzing sound and suddenly fireworks were going off everywhere. Rockets were scudding along the ground, Roman candles were shooting balls in all directions, catherine wheels were spinning all over the place.

“Everyone took off running, me included. Later, we found firework cases all over the place and the Salvation Army trestle table a charred heap.”

Other Coronation events in George Street, however, ran smoothly. Families enjoyed a sports morning at Cowley Marsh, followed by a fancy dress party in a church building in Oxford Road.

Mr Burgess appeared in fancy dress as Charlie Chaplin, after persuading a funeral director to let him borrow one of his outfits.

The story of the George Street celebrations appears in A Mishmash of Life, Mr Burgess’s book of memories of living at Cowley, published by Diadem Books, of Alloa, Scotland.