Links to YouTube -  Portadown Videos

Portadown Festival of Britain 1951

June 1951, a memorable day and week for our Town, Portadown welcomed HM Queen Elizabeth and the Princess Margaret at the start of Festival of Britain week celebrations. The original plan was that Her Majesty would have accompanied King George VI, unfortunately he was ill and unable to travel and in the circumstances The Princess Margaret accompanied her mother.

The King never recovered from his illness and sadly died 8 months later on the 6th, February 1952; he was succeeded by our present Queen Elizabeth II.

These six clips show various celebrations which took place in Portadown during that week. How many of us remember those events? I do, even though I was only ten years of age then.

Each clip is 7 minutes long, so clear some time to view the complete 40 minutes in six parts. You will see our youth organizations, sports in the Public Park and Shamrock Park, displays of Portadown Unit of the Territorial Army and our Fire service Brigade, not forgetting street scenes and the many local dignitaries of the time. You may even catch a glimpse of your parents or grandparents or yourself!

Coronation Celebrations 1953 Portadown

Celebrations started on the morning of 2nd. June 1953. View old amateur 8mm film of the weeks Coronation celebrations. After the unveiling of a plaque in the town centre two of the Queens Royal Swans where launched onto the river Bann. There were numerous events throughout the week, youth parades in town, football, hockey, skittles, cricket, cycle racing in the public parks, finishing with an Elizabethan Pageant in Shamrock Park. View all six parts lasting around 7 minutes each.

Granting of Royal Charter of Borough to Portadown 1947

In 1947 Portadown Urban Council was granted Royal Charter of Borough. The first Mayor was Bob Magowan. The videos show the ceremony in Portadown Town Hall. Mrs Sam McGredy presented the Council with a Mayoral chain; it was made up from gold medals won by the world famous Rose breeding family of McGredy. The following year a reception was held at the Canning factory in Castle Avenue where the new Mayoral chair, built by T.W. McDonagh & Sons was presented by George Chapman.