FEEDING THE CROWDS

Evening Star, Issue 22619, 10 April 1937, Page 27

FEEDING THE CROWDS

CORONATION ORDEAL FOR SPECTATORS People who wish to see the Coronation procession and have not booked seats will have to stand for anything up to 30 hours. Even those with seats will have to wait at least eight hours. This statement was made when details were given to me of plans for providing food and drink for spectators of tlie Coronation procession, says a writer in the ‘ Daily Telegraph.’ The arrangements already completed concern die hundreds of thousands who will occupy seats in stands and line

the roads along that section of the Coronation procession route controlled by the Office of Works. Among them are; Buffets at 50 points behind the stands ; 12 marquees in the parks ; eight stores, for the distribution, of food and drink to the buffets and marquees; a staff of 800 people to distribute and serve the refreshment, including 200 uniformed boys, ivho will be permitted to tour the stands with trays of food and cigarettes; a milk bar, serving hot soup as well as all milk drinks, to be erected in Hyde Park by the Milk Marketing Board, and small milk bars in each marquee; milk for children in 142,000; small cartons; more than 200,000 sandwiches, to bo cut in the 24 hours preceding the procession. “ Tn all the plans it has been the object of the Office of Works to ensure that the public will be satisfied,” ' it was stated. “ Everybody must be able

to obtain some form of light refreshment and drink.”

Each buffet will he 20ft by 10ft, electrically lit and with gas and water laid on from the mains. The cost of laying this piping will be more than £I,OOO.

. It is the first time that such amenities have been granted for a single procession occupying only a few hours. The marquees in the parks will be open every night between May 9 and 20 from 6 p.m. until midnight, when the parks close. This is for the benefit of the people who will come to the W est End to see the floodlighting. On the night before the Coronation all the parks will remain open throughout the night, and buffets and marquees will give a continuous service. , On the nights following the Coronation the question of leaving the parks open all night will depend on the size

of the crowds, and will be left to the discretion of the police. Supplying food and drink for the enormous crowd which is expected on May 12 is considered one of the most important parts of the Coronation preparations. Plans for the organisation liave been under consideration since October. . , The catering is to be carried out by Mecca Cafes, under the seven-year contract which the firm holds for catering in Royal parks. All the food and drink will have to be in the buffets, marquees, and supply stores by midday on May 11. No alcoholic drinks will be served, and no bottled minerals will be allowed to be sold along that part of the route controlled by the Office of Works. It is hoped in this way to lessen the great mass of litter which must be left by the crowds.

Orange and lemon drinks will bo sold in cartons. They will be filled at each buffet with concentrate, with fresh water added. This method will also ensure the coolness of the drinks. About £20,000 will bo spent by the caterers to stock the stores with food, drink, chocolate, and cigarettes. Despite the precautions taken, it is estimated that breakages will cost between £2OO and £3OO.

All engaged in the service will bo drawn from the permanent staff of the Mecca Cafes, and will be paid extra wages for working on the day of the Coronation. Members of the office staff will act as cashiers.

That part of the route controlled by the Office of Works and covered by the present plans includes Hyde Park, Constitution Hill, the Mall, and the Jsnibankment.