THE 60th anniversary of the coronation of the Queen has sparked a few memories for a Times reader now living in Buckinghamshire writes John Hutchins.

Philip Bridge remembers the heady days when the nation, still recovering from the effects of the second world war, had something to collectively celebrate on June 2, 1953.

Now aged 69, Philip recalls participating in a special coronation sports day a few days later, held in the Meadows, Tavistock, with other races held at the old barracks fields off Battery Lane.

He said: 'Who was the fastest nine year-old in Tavistock at the Coronation sports day? I was!

'The photo by Tom Bromley (above) shows Douglas Baker, Richard Owen, me (in white vest), Curly Mears, another boy and Geoffrey Owen.'

'The only boy who could beat me at school in a race was Keith Neale, but we were in different age group races on the day so I won my races.

'I remember it rained later because we received our prizes in the bandstand at the Meadows.'

Philip's family lived at the first houses built at Drake Gardens after the war and he attended Tavistock Primary School and later Tavistock Grammar School, before the family moved to Buckinghamshire when he was 13.

He fondly remembers playing boyhood cricket with Jack Davey, who went on to play for Gloucestershire while his friend in the coronation sports day picture Geoffrey Owen, has recently scored a 100 for Dorset Over 60s cricket team against Devon!

Philip remembers being a young member of the Congregation Church when it was then situated on the corner of Elbow Lane and Brook Street.

His mother Hilda was the caretaker there.

Philip, now retired after a career in computing, told the Times: 'Tavistock was a great place to grow up as a boy with the Meadows, the river and the moors on your doorstep.

'You only realise how much freedom you had when you moved away to more built up areas.

'I think children then had more freedom to explore and play then they do now.

'I have fond memories of Tavistock.'