AFTER the mammoth celebrations last year for the Queen's Golden Jubilee, it seems the 50th anniversary of the Coronation has been almost forgotten.

Fifty years ago today the Queen was crowned in Westminster Abbey and Swindon was bristling with red, white and blue decorations as people celebrated in the streets, marking the beginning of a new Elizabethan age.

And when Britons celebrated the Silver Jubilee of the Coronation 25 years ago, there were fireworks, Coronation anthems and street proclamations.

But this time around the only sign of a party will be the Union Jack being flown at the civic offices in Euclid Street, and it appears no other events are planned.

Marion Goodenough, of Walcot, who as a young girl was Coronation Queen for Pinehurst back in 1953, says she is appalled.

"It's disgraceful really. I just don't understand people," she said. "There's no decorations or anything in Swindon.

"I thought it should have been a national holiday, but nobody's talking about it. I'm gutted."

Mrs Goodenough, now 60, is wearing a crown to mark the day and dressing in red, white and blue, determined it should be a special time.

Her local pub, the Bulldog, is hosting a party with music from 4pm, where Marion will go in her regalia.

Mary Ratcliffe, 72, from Old Town, has been impersonating Queen Victoria for the benefit of charities and schools for the past 20 years, and has her own ideas as to why there is apparent public apathy towards the anniversary.

She said: "I am not surprised, I am more realistic about things now.

"I think people have reverted to what is going on in society. We've just had a war with Iraq, there's starvation in Ethiopia, these things are of more concern for people now. Perhaps people just aren't in the mood."

It seems last year's jubilee celebrations, when street parties were held across the borough, may have taken the fizz out of festivities this time round too.

Tim Brian, curator of the Steam museum, which organised a special royal exhibition last year, said: "We did it last year really to fall in line with everyone else. There were national events to do with the jubilee, but nothing like that this year."

Mayor Derek Benfield said: "I just don't know why it's not the same now.

"There were massive celebrations for the jubilee it was tremendous. But this time there's obviously no interest in it.

"The borough will be flying the flag though."

The situation is not that different in neighbouring towns.

Coun William Cavill, mayor of Marlborough, said there would be no events to mark the Coronation in the town. And Coun Deryck Nash, mayor of Cirencester said there were no events there either.

Councillor Desna Allen, mayor of Chippenham, said that Chippenham had done plenty for the Golden Jubilee.

She said: "It does surprise me that there are no events to my knowledge in the town. We did plenty for the Golden Jubilee but this year people are far to busy."