Continuing John Mathews' travel diary..........
THE DIARY - Torquay to Edinburgh
Friday, May 27th 1955
Torquay
We wished we could have slept in, but we had to get up for breakfast. After breakfast Ron said that we could go and play tennis. Until about 10.00 a.m. I spent the time writing my diary and starting a letter.
We left soon after 10.00 in our sports clothes and went to tennis courts near the bus-park. Ron paid 2/- for one hour. We only had two racquets so we played 2/3rds of a time each. Ron left before noon and Bill and I played on.
About 12.20 we left the courts and set out for Callard's Cafe for our lunch. When we passed the Town Hall we saw the Mayor declaring the poll of the Totness constituency. We caused a bit of a stir when we walked in amongst the other boys in sports clothes. The lunch was very nice.
After lunch we set out to find the Museum. Bill went back, but I eventually did find it. Back at the Cafe we met Ron and Miss Shepherd, who was going to take us for a drive. We left along beside the Harbour and looked out across Torbay to Brixham. The water was a deep blue and we appreciated to the fullest the clear visibility which enabled us to see. So different from the day before.
Passing through Paignton we saw the massive wall surrounding the 75 acres Paignton Zoo. We marvelled at the beautiful colour of the soil - a rich red. There was a fine contrast between the soil and the lush green vegetation.
At Totness we crossed the River Dart, which is tidal only as far as Totness. On the way to Buckfast we sped along beside the Dart for quite a while. We got out near an old stone bridge and had a look at the water. Ron said that it is a great river for salmon fishing. Further on we saw a salmon leap, with the water tumbling over a series of concrete walls.
At Buckfast we went to the Abbey, which has been built since 1907 on the foundations left from a mediaeval abbey. It is a curious mixture. Its arches were equilateral and the windows were surmounted by round arches. The interior was almost entirely white and very well lit. The floor was of mosaic marble and the altar of beaten gold.
When we left the Abbey we went past Ashburton and Bovey Tracey up on to Dartmoor to the Haytor Rocks. We had to walk up a hill of spongy grass to get to them, and then we climbed up the rocks to look about. It was a tremendous view. We could see miles in every direction. Past Torquay was the Channel with the sea gradually merging into the mist forming.
The fields split by hedges were a delightful patchwork of reds and greens. Ribbons of road wound about the undulating land towards the white masses of houses in the distance. At last we had to leave, and by way of Bovey Tracey and Newton Abbot we drove back home to Kingskerswell.
After supper we went to the Overseas League HQ where between three of our boys and three representatives of the Junior Group of Torquay Overseas League there was a session of any questions. It was amusing, although they did not delve fully into all the subjects.
After that Mr. Hutchinson gave out all the mail for the Cardiff Casanovas. Then after I had rushed up to get our food parcel a mob of us went to the Coffee Pot Cafe for coffee.
It was good fun but by the time we reached home we were leg-weary and tired. I rushed through my diary before going to sleep.
Saturday, May 28th 1955
Torquay
As I did not have to be at Torre Abbey until just before 11.00 a.m. I spent almost a couple of hours after breakfast in finishing letters. We did not leave until 10.30 with Ron, and we ran about 3/4 mile to get there on time. Quite a few of the boys were not there when we arrived so it was all right.
We formed up, and began shuffling in the door to shake hands with the Mayor. After walking down a long line of handshakes we heard the usual speeches. Then we all had coffee and biscuits before filing out onto the steps to have our photos taken. Above the doorway was the bowl in which the Olympic flame was kept alight during the yachting of the 1948 Olympic Games.
When we went inside again we were taken to the Mayor's Parlour and our guide told us some of the history of the place. It was an abbey of typical design until the suppression of the monasteries about 1540. Acquired by a secular family the church gradually fell to ruins, although the refectory and the living quarters were used. It came to the Cary family about the 17th Century and stayed in their family until about 25 years ago. As a result of their occupation the house has a facade dating back to the 17th Century. In many rooms there were lovely examples of 18th century furniture.
When we left the parlour we went into another room where there were some paintings and Chippendale furniture. In the main entrance hall were the original massive beams, which were there when it was part of the monastery eating-hall.
Then we went upstairs, where two of the rooms had been converted into an art gallery by the Corporation of Torquay. A large room, which was originally part of the abbot's quarters, had two large portraits of the last males of the Cary family in it. A white Adam fireplace attracted our attention there.
Then we went into the gardens to see the remains of the abbey church. Only a few stones from the walls of the choir and transept, and large chunks from the tower, now remain. In the top of the remaining wall of the chapter house were holes which may have been entrances to pigeon lofts.
Underneath the old abbot's quarters were large whitewashed vaults, which were for the use of travellers, and others which were used as food stores and wine cellars. They looked as if they had been scarcely touched since they had been part of the old monastery.
Then we went out the front again, where we were paid. I received one pound, and 10/- trust money. Bill and I hurried off to Callard's for our dinner. When we left there we went to the post office where I posted my letters.
Bill and I had a tiff, and we walked in opposite directions and I reached home before him. Ron and he went off to play golf while I stayed behind to watch the British Games from White City on television. From three till four I sat with my eyes glued on the screen. In the international mile the first three runners all broke four minutes. A Hungarian, Tabori, won in 3-59. Chataway was second and Brian Hewson third, both at 3-59.8.
I spent the rest of the afternoon writing. In the evening we all went to see Twinkle at the Pavilion Theatre. Of course it was not so spectacular as the London show we had seen but it was very good.
After the show Miss Shepherd drove around beside the harbour and Rock Wall. They were lit by dozens of coloured floodlights, while strings of coloured lights arched around Princess Walk. It was lovely.
We were very tired and very glad to get to bed when we reached home.
Sunday, May 29th 1955
Torquay
It was rather hectic round about 8.45 a.m. when Ron and his mother were trying to wake us up - or rather, get us up. We eventually got to breakfast by 9.00 a.m. The morning was quiet, and most of the time I spent writing. Mrs. Stemp did our washing and I helped hang them on the line. I had a bit of a hit with the tennis racquet, and Bill, Ron and myself had a competition.
Our dinner was delightful. Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, potatoes, peas and gravy, with a glass of cider to wash it down. Bill drank his cider too fast and had to leave the table. At the end of our mealtime there was a speech by the P.M., Sir Anthony Eden, about the railway strike. He told us its causes and the measures being taken to meet the emergency.
Soon after 2.00 p.m. Mrs. Stemp took us out in the car for a drive. By way of Newton Abbot we went, and passed some extensive quarries for kaolin. Soon we were purring along beside the River Teign. The trees in their new spring coats were simply lovely, and I knew that no film could ever do justice to the many shades of green.
Fresh spring sunshine filtered through the leaves of the trees, which made the road almost a tunnel. Here and there patches of bluebells and buttercups spread along the green carpet.
We stopped at one place and Ron, Bill and myself picked bunches of wildflowers while Mrs. Stamp walked in the sunshine. Further along the road we stopped at a salmon leap and took photographs. When we left the river we pulled up a series of hills and were soon through Moretonhampstead, and heading back to Newton Abbott. The road was terribly narrow although it had an excellent surface, and Mrs. Stemp had to pull over and stop to let many cars pass us.
We arrived home again after passing through Newton Abbott about 4.00 p.m. Miss Shepherd had some visitors and we all had tea together. When Bill, Ron and myself started playing tennis on the garage wall the woman from next door told us off and said we were turning the place into a slum. Then we went over to a paddock and played golf with tennis balls. We succeeded in losing two balls, and then came home for supper.
After supper I ironed two shirts thinking that they were both mine but one of them was Bill's - curse it! We watched a very interesting film on television, and we had about our earliest night for quite a while when we were in bed soon after 10.00 p.m.
Monday, May 30th 1955
Torquay (Whit Monday)
When we got up we were told that we would be going up to Dartmoor and then on to Plymouth. I went up the road to see if I could buy a film for my camera, but the chemist was not open until 10.00 a.m. I bought three postcards of Torquay, instead, at the newsagents.
By about 10.20 we were ready and we drove off after saying goodbye to Mr, Stemp, who was not coming because he felt off-colour. We stopped at the chemist and both Ron and I bought films. Miss Shepherd drove us through Newton Abbot, and onto the main London-Penzance road by way of Ashburton. Just the other side of Ashburton we turned off into the road leading to Princetown.
The road was shaded by trees and it was delightful with, now and again, a vault of blue sky passing above us as we went along. We saw part of the Dart rippling by and soon we came to some very long and steep hills. One of them was about 1/2 mile long, with a slope of 1:4 1/2.
At Dartmoor we were held up by two coaches and a "policeman" directing them across a narrow stone bridge which only allowed them about 6" clearance. Once across the river and we were into another hill. Miss Shepherd had to change her pre-selector gears down to first to get up because a motor-bike fooled about in front of us.
As we gradually rose up onto Dartmoor we saw a few black specks on the horizon - Dartmoor ponies. When we reached the top we had to stop because about four or five ponies were wandering about the road. I rushed through putting my film into my camera and was soon out taking photos of them.
The ponies were very bold and came right up and shoved their heads through the car windows. One of the mares had a lovely foal, and they were a lovely study together. Mrs. Stemp gave one of them a sherbet sweet, and it seemed to enjoy it very much.
At last we had to leave and were soon on our way to Princetown. Down in the valley we could see cultivated fields, while the uplands were mainly spongy grass. We could easily imagine what it would be like - bleak and cold - when the weather was not so mild.
On a tor on the horizon we saw the temporary television mast, which serves parts of Devon and Cornwall.
Soon we were in Princetown and, before we knew it, right upon the prison. It was not a very imposing sight, but we knew that it was one of the 'safest' gaols in England. Passing through Princetown we were soon on a much wider and better road. We passed some golf links and then pulled up at a quiet spot for a picnic lunch.
While we were eating Bill, Ron and myself had a 'discussion' about the Japanese aims towards Australia in the Second World War. As there were some ponies nearby, Bill and I went with some bread to feed them. I decided I would like to hop on one, but by that time all our bread had gone, and I could not get near enough.
On our way once more and it was not long before we were entering the city of Plymouth. As we went through the city we realized that it had "copped it" during the War, because most of the buildings were new, particularly in the city centre which we passed on our way to the Hoe.
Miss Shepherd parked her car and Ron, Bill and myself went and boarded a boat which was to take us round about the harbour and the naval dockyards. On our starboard side were the walls of the Citadel which Charles II put up after the Restoration. To port as we came about was an R.A.F. airfield with planes roaring overhead.
I fell into conversation with a young Englishman, and we formed a "shipboard friendship" of about 45 minutes.
Far on our port side we could see the breakwater, and a faint pencil shadow which was the Eddystone Lighthouse. We passed Drake's Island and gradually made the turn into Devonport. We saw the H.Q. of the W.R.N.S. perching on the side of a green hill. As we approached the naval dockyards the cox'n of our boat told us that the aircraft carrier which we could see was the Ark Royal. We also saw the battleship Howe and another flat-top, and several cruisers as well as a borrowed Cunard liner. Quite a few of the guns were "in mothballs" - i.e. covered by a protective plastic coat.
When we were passing the pleasant looking swimming pool we saw Mrs. Stamp and Miss Shepherd up on the road and waved to them. After our trip we joined them, and then went up into a park. Here Bill shouted us up into the part of the Eddystone Lighthouse which was erected there as a memorial to the engineer, John Smeaton. It was quite a view from up the top, but a hard job to get there.
When we came down I walked across the lawn, thick with people sleeping in the sun, to have a look at Drake's statue, and also a war memorial.
Miss Shepherd said we could go to the naval dockyard to go over the ships. On the way we went the wrong way in the car, but eventually we arrived there. It cost 8/6, for the five of us and the car, just to get in. While Miss Shepherd stayed in the car we walked around the dockyard. Unfortunately we only had about an hour, and we could not waste the time to queue up and go over a ship.
But in the short time we were there we still had time to feel some of the tradition of the Royal Navy. We saw H.M. Submarine (Midget) Stickleback making a mock attack on the frigate Loch Fyne. The queue for the Arc Royal was many yards long so I only bought a souvenir booklet of it.
On our way back to the car we saw a helicopter demonstrate an air-sea rescue with a sling and also a net. We left the dockyard about 4.40 and soon we were out of Plymouth, heading back to home. This time when we stopped for tea we had an argument about the velocity of a rocket.
We arrived home about 6.15 and soon after that I had everyone out on the road to have their photograph taken. Then I wrote some of my diary before starting to pack up all my junk.
After supper Bill, Ron and myself caught a bus into Torquay for a last fling. We saw Robin Storer and his hostess on the bus. They had been to the races at Buckfastleigh.
Our first stop was a penny arcade where we had a few shots on the "Air-Gunner machines". My highest score was 163. Then we strolled down beside the harbour, and while Bill went out on to Princess Pier, Ron and I walked down and had a look through the penny telescope. Two frigates - F-66 and F-69 - were in the harbour and we had a squint at them.
Ron went to have a drink of coffee with some friends while Bill and I went back to the penny arcade. I scored 173 on the Air-Gunner and 41 out of 50 on the shooting gallery. Then after a fair wait we caught a bus home. I then finished packing and wrote my diary.
Tuesday, May 31st 1955
Torquay - Birmingham
We were awakened by Mr. Stemp. He came in about 7.00 a.m. to say good-bye before leaving for work. After shaking his hand we started to get up. I packed my pyjamas and then went into breakfast.
Miss Shepherd gave Bill and myself 5/- each "to spend on films". Bill and myself had a look through the stereoscope, and this made Bill a bit late getting ready to leave. I had a spin about the bedroom just before leaving to see if we had left anything behind.
Then we went out and hopped into the Lanchester with Miss Shepherd. When Bill rushed out we were off, and by about 8.40 we arrived at the bus park near Castle Circus. We shook hands with Miss Shepherd and Ron, and thanked them very much. Then we went over to our coaches.
When the coach from Paignton arrived we all formed up and gave three cheers for Torquay. I got a letter from home and spent the first few minutes reading it. We were on the road to Newton Abbot, and when we passed "Harewood" we waved out the window to Ron and his aunt who were out waiting to see us go past.
As we were well on our way we all settled down for the long journey. The early morning haze soon cleared and it was soon a very clear blue sky. I spent about half an hour reading my school books, but I soon became sick of them. Almost before we knew it we were through Newton Abbot and past Exeter. By the time we had reached Taunton it was time to stop, and we all got out to have a walk around. There was really nothing to see there. I wandered into a bookstore just to have a look around.
When we left Taunton we gradually were leaving the Devon type of country behind, and entering a flat type of country. We passed Bridgewater where we had our lunch on our trip down from Cheltenham. After the flat country we came to more hills, and just outside Bristol we passed two large reservoirs. We also saw an aerodrome with a glider just being released from a truck towing it.
As we came upon Bristol I saw the closely stacked houses. I was very surprised to see a beautiful Gothic church, which I later learnt was St. Mary of Radcliffe. Later on we passed the lovely old Bristol Cathedral. I would have loved to go back and see them but we did not get the time.
Our buses went through the centre of the city and past the University and Museum and Art Gallery. Then we went up a hill and stopped at a very nice hotel for our lunch. After lunch I went off to see if I could get to see the churches. I went to the University cum Museum and found that in the art galleries there were works to really interest me. Then I went up to a park, and from that height I saw the churches - just too far away. Then with Mr. Tregenza I trudged on back to the University and photographed the tower.
By this time it was almost 2.30 and time to get back to our buses at the hotel. Ray Dixon kept us waiting for about 1/2 an hour. When we did leave the city we passed the Bristol car factory, and a few minutes later we saw the airfield, which had some Viscounts as well as Glo'ster Meteor night fighters.
I was feeling tired, and dozed off a bit. We saw Tewkesbury Abbey but of course we could not stop. Gloucester whizzed by, and soon we were approaching Worcester. We stopped just outside the Cathedral, but as there was a service going on I could not go in. The service was to finish by 6.00 p.m. but we were well on our way by then. So I had to be content with walking about the outside.
What a mixture it was architecturally. I counted 16 different window designs. There were equilateral, four-centred, obtuse, low-centred arches over them, as well as round arches. On the side were the only flying buttresses I have ever seen supporting the main wall from the ground, as well as ordinary type buttresses. One of these flying buttresses was a colossal thing about four feet thick.
The large square tower in the centre of the church looked as if it may have been built in Norman times. On the front of the porch, over the arched doorway, were carvings about four feet high of saints, etc.
When we left Worcester we were held up for about 1/2 an hour by a traffic delay. We took about 10 minutes to travel about 200 yards. All the buses were crowded, cars were everywhere, and many people were walking. At last we were free and our buses sped on towards Birmingham. The country, contrary to my expectations, was very green, open, and lovely, with no factories belching smoke at all.
We approached Birmingham along Bristol Road, and for much of the distance it was tree-lined. The houses reminded me of along St. Kilda Road. It was after 7.00 p.m. when we at last pulled up at the Imperial Hotel in Temple Street.
By the time we had taken our luggage off the coaches and had met our hosts it was 7.30. Our hosts had been waiting since 6.00 p.m. Bill Moore and myself were once more together, this time with Mr. and Mrs. Hearn. We carried our cases up a hill and piled in to the Austin 10.
Soon we arrived at the home of our hosts and met Pamela, 16, their daughter and their sons Richard, 12, and Christopher, 9. We had a late meal and, after viewing television and writing my diary, Bill and myself retired to bed feeling very tired.
Wednesday, June 1st 1955
Birmingham - 175 Swanshurst Lane, Moseley
Mrs. Hearn woke us up about 7.50 with a cup of tea. Bill said he did not want his and rolled over and went to sleep again. However we did eventually get up and down we went to breakfast. After we had made our bed we went off with Mr. A.J. Hearn in his car to go to our rendezvous with the buses in Stevenson Place.
Going along Bristol Road Mr. Hearn told us about the traffic problem in Birmingham. Just before the city centre, Bristol Road narrows, and then broadens into what is known as the "Bull Ring". The buses just crawled along and we had to crawl along behind them. Several million pounds have already been spent widening the road and installing traffic islands. However the worst part has yet to be tackled. We saw the device for changing the lights when the car runs over it.
When we arrived at our meeting place we shook hands with Mr. Hearn, who was on his way to London, and said good-bye. Then I ran up a few streets to a chemist's, and after ordering a SuperXX film I settled for a PlusX. I later found that I should have bought a PanatomicX film.
After waiting for about four boys who were late we started off. The second bus stopped to pick up Trevor Mathers and we lost it. Our bus was soon on its way towards Warwick. I was really surprised to see the great extent of the suburbs of Birmingham. We passed through Solihull and other places before coming out into the country. Murray Williamson and Bob Woodrow were late, and caught up with us in a blue sports car.
When we arrived at Warwick Castle we found that the other bus was already there. We went in and saw about the rooms - they were terrific. Our guide to the chapel was a blind man. We could not go to see the Warwick Vase or the gardens because there was not time to.
Back in our buses we set off once more, for Stratford-upon-Avon. The country was beautiful and peaceful and soon we came into town. Our buses pulled up outside the house which was Shakespeare's birthplace. It has been restored, of course, and only one stone and one wooden floor are the original ones. None of the furniture is original, but is genuine period stuff. The windows of the room where Shakespeare was born have many names written upon them with a diamond. Sir Walter Scott's signature was one of the most famous there. One end of the house has been converted into a museum housing books and documents which Shakespeare may have used. There was also a massive old desk from Shakespeare's old school.
After that we hopped into the buses and they took us near the restaurant where we were to have our lunch. It was quite nice. After lunch we went for a walk beside the Avon. It was lovely. Everyone seemed to be on holiday and enjoying themselves in the beautiful spring sunshine. We walked around a pool to the Shakespeare Monument. Some of us photographed Hamlet holding a skull with a beret on it. Max Robinson had his photo taken with his arm around Lady Macbeth.
It was delightful to stroll along beside the River and watch the swans and boats gliding across the water. We saw the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre and I took a photo of it. Some of the boys had hired canoes and were skimming across the water.
We were due at the Stratford-upon-Avon Holy Trinity Church at 2.30, so we wandered down by the River towards it. When we arrived we amused ourselves by looking at the tombstones until it was time for us to go in.
The minister of the church took us round, and he told off a guide who was lecturing there. In the church we saw the slab where Shakespeare lies buried. He has been six feet under since 1616, and he was born and he died on 23rd April, St. George's Day. Every year on his birthday the bust of him that sits near the grave receives a new quill, and thousands of floral tributes are sent from all over the world.
We had to leave in a bit of a hurry and, as usual, we were held up by boys being late. Anyhow we at last arrived by bus at Anne Hathaway's Cottage. We were not allowed to go in, so we had to content ourselves with photographing the picturesque little cottage.
On our trip back into Birmingham I fell asleep and only awoke just before we arrived at the City Hall for tea with the Lord Mayor. We all filed in and shook hands with him, and then set to on the food and the tea. When we were almost full the Lord Mayor made a pretty speech of welcome. He said that, with a population of 1,200,000, Birmingham is the second city of Britain, but actually the largest and most comprehensive city administration is carried on by the Council.
Mr. Johnstone thanked him, and then we went into the Council Chamber where 152 councillors and aldermen meet once each month. They control an area of 81 square miles in everything except hospitals. In the Chamber was a unique automatic voting system worked by buttons.
Then Bill and myself went out and met Pamela and Richard, who had come to meet us, and we all went home together. We played golf and table tennis, watched Fabian on TV, and wrote our diaries before going to bed.
Thursday, June 2nd 1955
Birmingham - Edinburgh
Bill and I were up by about 7.00 a.m. and after we had dressed and packed everything away we went down to breakfast. Mr. Hearn was not home so Mrs. Hearn had arranged for her mother to take us into the buses. So we said good-bye to Mrs. Hearn and the boys, and with Pamela we went in the car to Stevenson Place. The buses were a bit late in leaving as usual but it was not too bad.
We waved good-bye and then we were off. The places we passed as we headed north were mainly factories, and we understood when we thought of the industrial heart of England. Our trip took us through Walsall, and to our left we saw the factories of Wolverhampton belching smoke.
We passed Lichfield and Stafford, and in Stoke-on-Trent the first bus stopped to pick up Mr.and Mrs. Hutchinson. A bit later we stopped at Knutsford for about ten minutes. When we found that there was still about 80 miles to go till we arrived at Lancaster for our lunch there was a bit of complaining. We skirted the city of Manchester and passed through Wigan instead. After that I became drowsy and I was not fully conscious when we passed through Preston.
Soon after 2.00 p.m., however, we arrived at Lancaster and after a drive around the block we pulled up at a hotel for our dinner. The meal was not too bad but the system of serving it had whiskers on it. It took them about 20 minutes to serve just the one course. After our meal we were not allowed to go and buy anything, but we had to stop in the hotel yard until the people in authority decided that it was time to be moving again.
Just out of Lancaster we could see the sea in the distance, but soon we had left it behind and were climbing into the hills of Westmoreland. The fields were lovely and green but near the tops of the hills they had a reddy tinge where the soil peeped through. By the time we had reached Kendall the trees were disappearing fast from the fields. The country ceased to be undulating and we were soon speeding along the sides of quite steep hills. But still the inevitable stone walls snaked their way across the country. There were very few hedges.
It was round about here that we saw our first English rabbits. Quite a few of them were feeding in the pale sunshine or hopping lazily about. I was rather disappointed when I found that we were skirting the famous lakes, but nevertheless the scenery was lovely.
The towers of a power transmission line were being painted a very bilious green. Whether this was intended to tone them in with their surroundings or not, I do not know. When our buses came to one tremendous hill they became involved in a traffic jam. One large truck carrying electric cable had a wheel off, and further on an enormous bulldozer was on the top of a lorry just crawling along.
The only places we passed that showed any signs of industry were a few farmhouses, and two quarries into granite outcrops. We all gave a shout when we saw a train of 13 carriages whiz past us in a cutting.
Through Penrith we passed, and by about 6.15 we reached Carlisle. In the cafe where we went for tea it was quite pleasant. When Bob Everard stood up and made a speech of thanks to our drivers who were to leave us at Edinburgh, we all cheered and clapped for them. When we hopped aboard our bus once more to go on, Kingsley Purdie and Ted Rollinson took up a collection for our driver.
Between Carlisle and Gretna Green we passed into Scotland and, of course, everybody put on their best "Scots" accents for the occasion. At the village of Gretna Green we went up past the blacksmith's shop where in the past many runaway couples have been married.
We passed through several villages and towns and then through Moffat. Most of us were pretty tired, and I dozed off for part of the way, but I could not get properly to sleep. The hills were bare of trees and the grass was tussocky, with long tailed and black-faced sheep wandering about grazing. I did not see a house for miles on end. Now and then a plantation of pine trees or a stack of peat would relieve the monotony, or perhaps a rabbit would skud along the ground.
The sun was an orange ball hung just above the dark hills in the distance, and we knew that our long day was almost done. Through Pennycuick, and we were soon into Edinburgh. We were all surprised to see double-decker trams. When our driver stopped to drop his case at his home we all thought he was nicking off on us. But he came back and we were soon at the Overseas League HQ in Princes Street.
In his speech Mr. Hutchinson made a faux pas by thanking the citizens of Glasgow for their hospitality. With Trevor Mathers, my hostess was Miss Ker, and we went by taxi to her flat. We climbed up to the third floor and met her father, and after a bite of supper Trevor and I were very glad to get into bed.
Illustrations:
# John Mathews' drawing "The West Country"
# "Warwick Castle" booklet 1954
# "Shakespeare's Birthplace" booklet
To be continued..............
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