King George V Coronation Oak

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Postcard supplied by Ralph Rendall

 

This postcard shows a group of people gathering around a tree being planted. After some detective work by David Wheeler and others it was identified as being one of three oak trees that were planted in the town to commemorate the Coronation of King George V in June 1911. The illustration shows the tree at Chertsey Recreation Ground, near Sir William Perkin’s School, Guildford Road. In the foreground is C. Cllr. George Boyce JP, with the beard, together with Miss Boyce and her dog.  Boys from the School of Handicraft are in the front row. In the background the railings that were sent for scrap in WWII are clearly visible. A full account may be found in The Surrey Herald, 1911.

Sadly the other two trees are thought to no longer survive: one, on The Hollows, Willow Walk was destroyed by bombs in WWII, the second, in the playground of Stepgates School facing on to Free Prae Road, was lost when the school was demolished and redeveloped for housing.

The tree on the Recreation Ground still survives today  and now has a girth of 105 inches which is consistent with its age.  Following lobbying by The Chertsey Society, in June 2011, a new plaque was placed near the tree by Runnymede Borough Council to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the coronation.  Thanks are expressed to Peter Winfield of RBC Parks & Gardens department.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

   The new plaque

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Wednesday 22nd June 2011 - new plaque placed next to the tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Group photo (details below)

 

 

Members of The Chertsey Society and Friends of Chertsey Museum together with Mr Peter Winfield , the RBC Parks and Amenities Manager photographed in front of the George V coronation oak tree.
[ l to r:  Malcolm Loveday, Thelma Lake, Richard Mason, Valerie Lane, David Wheeler, Peter Winfield, Bill Lane, Stephanie Hunt & Peter Lake ]