This is the story of Will and his two friends who sailed to England in 1967 to see the world. Aerogrammes. letters, diaries and postcards help to tell of their adventures in this A to Z.

“Birthday” Beatles 1968
They say it’s your birthday
It’s my birthday too, yeah
They say it’s your birthday
We’re gonna have a good time
I’m glad it’s your birthday
Happy birthday to you

52 Weltje Road, Hammersmith, London 6th April 1967

I had to meet a couple of girls (Michelle and Norma) from the Fairsea, at Victoria Station as they have just arrived from Europe and are staying here for a week.  It’s good to have some female cooked food for a change as somehow it tastes better. 

Meanwhile school was a bit hard to take after two and a half weeks Easter hols but we get a week’s holiday in eight weeks time (mid term) and besides, the kids are beginning to learn that  “What Mr Price says, goes”.

You asked about the flat and food. Well, it has worked very well in shifts for the cooking and there has been so much heckling, particularly if a crook meal is served, the meals have been reasonably good but the place gets a bit dirty now and then. Anyway the girls will probably clean it up this week as they won’t start teaching for a week or so and won’t get their flat immediately.

The hot meal at school is great. Today, for example, we had shepherds pie plus four vegs plus apple/blackberry crumble with custard for two shillings and fourpence.

Extract from Diary April 9^th 1967

Birthday song for brekkie, coffee in bed.  Up for brunch.  Tube to Piccadilly Circus to show the girls London.

To Buckingham Palace, St James Park, Horse Guards, 10 Downing Street, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Westminster Bridge, River Thames, Pavement Artist, Scott’s Discovery, Strand, St Clement’s Church (chimes), Trafalgar Square.  Tube back to Hammer.  Dinner, coffee, talked, discussed news from Home.  Bed 12.30am

School tomorrow!  How depressing after 2 ½ week’s hols.

21^st April, 1967

Hi!  Received your letter. This is just a card we bought in Stratford. Michelle, Norma and I hired a blue Austin Mini for three days and we had a “delightful” weekend getting behind the wheel again and touring.  Left London Friday night and stayed at a pub at Cambridge the first night.  The university is quite impressive.  Then to Bedford, Northampton and Coventry where we saw the walls and steeple of Coventry Cathedral, built 1300 and destroyed by bombing in 1941. Stayed with Michelle’s friends at Rugby and saw the field where the boy picked up the soccer ball, started to run and rugby began.  Stratford is really beautiful and they fancy “Old Bill” quite a bit.  Many, many old buildings and his statue and name are everywhere.  

Extract from Diary Sunday, 23^rd April

After 10 am breakfast 6 of us, Michelle, Norma, Keith, Phil, Ted and I caught the tube to Baker Street where we visited Mde Tussauds Waxworks.  Quite fascinating and very lifelike.  Australia was well represented in sports section with Brabham, Bradman, Marg Smith and Laver. Sir Robert (Menzies) was there.  Lady sitting on seat and train robbers reading newspapers. Battle of Trafalgar was quite realistic.

We thought it funny when Michelle asked a wax lady at the canteen did she sell chocolates.    Spent the rest of the day in Hyde Park at Speakers Corner watching the Yanks heckling anti-Vietnam speakers.  

I hear there’s a new pay rise for schoolies backdated to October (more brass for me).  Had a haircut.  First in four months. Food costs £2 a week.  Meat fairly expensive but I’ve put on over half a stone so am eating well.  Thank the club for singing Happy Birthday. Regards to all.  

Extract from Diary Sunday, 24th April

Flat was a hopeless mess.  Bods sleeping everywhere, clothes thick all over the floor.  Girls moved out to OVC (Overseas Visitors Centre). Met Fred at OVC and he moved in too. 9 for dinner!

52 Weltje Road, Hammersmith, London 26th April 1967

Hope the shock isn’t too great receiving a letter from me just after a card but I figured I’d better write a letter though yours and this one will probably pass in transit.  I had quite a good birthday.  The girls sang “Happy Birthday” and bought me a cake.  

When the other blokes arrived back from Scotland they bought me a half pint of Bitters. Thanks for the $6.  I haven’t bought anything yet but will eventually have a splurge on clothes and will get myself a Harris Tweed coat for £5 and trousers are pretty cheap.  Sweaters look OK and are reasonably priced so will get one of these too.

Keith and Phil have bought a Morris 1000, 1961 van in good condition for £70 and are off to tour England, Scotland and Wales for two weeks and then to Europe as they are going to Canada for the start of the school year in September. Graeme and Neil have jobs in holiday camps so are moving as well, so Ted, a Canadian guy and Fred (went to college with him) have moved in and we’ll get a couple of others to share expenses.  The girls have got a flat but were cooking our meals for a few weeks before that. 

 Spent a good weekend checking out more of London.  Did a conducted tour of the Tower by Beefeaters, saw monument to the Great Fire, built 1671 and walked 311 steps to the top.  

Walked past Mansion House (Lord Mayor).  Bank of England, the Old Bailey and through St Paul’s Cathedral and down Fleet Street. Also had a ferry trip down the Thames. 

I’ve decided to stay teaching in London until end of term at least.  The boss wants me to stay for any number of years after that but no chance.  However, I might tour Europe for only the five week hols (summer vacation) and get back to London for two terms til following May, then to Europe and then to Canada in the following August.  But I haven’t yet decided.  I’m going to play it by ear.

Cheers (as the Poms say) and Cor Blimey, it ain’t ‘alf time to go.