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.

“Even the Bad Times are Good”    Tremoloes. • 1967
There are times in this life of mine
I think that the sun forgot how to shine
But as long as you're always there
It don't bother me 'cause why should I care
When all I've gotta do
Is run to you

14 Oaklands Road, Cricklewood, NW2, London 6th February, 1968

Well, we have a long sad story over here.  When we got home from school yesterday, we found our flat had been burgled and really cleaned out.  I reckon its lost me about £150.  £30 to £40 cash, radio, camera, new electric shaver, £60 worth of clothes including new shirts, sweaters, three pairs of trousers (including bottom half of my suit), jeans, one pair of shoes, my old Lavina watch (not working and with broken glass), alarm clock, even my penny jar, after shave lotion, pens and a couple of souvenirs – nothing INSURED!

Phil lost £45 cash and expensive camera, two shirts and other things.  They even cleaned out the gas and electricity meters, food kitty of £5 and so on.  So I was swearing non-stop for about two hours to let off some steam.  They did leave one new suit, suitcases and other clothes but have made a considerable hole in my budget.  I may have to cut down on some European trips in Spring and Summer.  The detective was sympathetic but couldn’t get fingerprints and we don’t hold any hopes of getting anything back.  Phil’s gear was insured (except money) so he may get something back. Geoff, the other bloke in the flat lost only a suit, clock and a few little other things, so he got out the lightest (me the heaviest) – What a b#%&!

Not to worry.  No good crying over spilt milk – so enough of the crook news.

Last Saturday Phil and I resumed our Rugby “career” playing for Osterley RVFC- they have about seven teams and I think we’re playing “B” grade – they read the team out – saying “scrum half Brown, fly half Smithson, two Australian lads in the centres”. We were way out of condition but all they wanted to know was that we were Aussies, drank beer and were either bass or tenor for singing afterwards. Phil and I got big wraps for “fantastic tackling” but the rest of the time all we did was puff. Have still been taking out Cilla on the staff (the one with the car) and doing a bit of socialising.

Extract from Diary

Saturday 3rd of February 1968

Out to Graham Scott’s place to borrow shorts and footy jumper and boots then to bank withdrawal £40  and met Phil at Australia House. Lunched at a Wimpy and snowed as we headed for Osterley by tube. Met the rugby mob at station and by Austin 1100 to Bracknell near Ascot Racecourse. Phil and I played in the centres, freezing cold and of course everyone kicks but we were so far out of nick we were pleased they were doing this. Got big wrap ups for our tackling went down 6-5 after leading 5-0 for most of the game. After to their clubhouse for free food and cheap grog.  Back late, apologised to Cilla for being late. Drove down to OVC about 9:00 pm where we had a few drinks and danced to a good beat band and talked. Back to her flat for coffee and talked with three others till 2:00 am. Bed exhausted.

We’re having a Gay and Hearty next Saturday as we need to cheer ourselves up a little – have about 80 friends coming.

Extract from Diary

Saturday 10th of February 1968 

Began cleaning up and did shopping of grog for party. Good show, about 100 people turned up. I got cheery and forgot to say hello to some people. I didn’t have much time to circulate as every time I left this bird (Cilla) someone tried to con her. A good show and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Renewed quite a few old acquaintances. 75 slept the night.

Extract from Diary

Tuesday, 13^th February, 1968

After school tubed into Piccadilly Circus where I insured my luggage. Met Phil, and Graham who is flying out for Washington next week, for a few beers at a pub at Leicester Square 5:30 pm. It rained all night and we had a view of the square through the all glass frontage as we drank halves of bitter and talked. Farewelled Graham and lost Phil at 11:00pm. Caught bus home. Went to sleep at Marble Arch and ended up in Cricklewood Bus Garage with lights out and surrounded by many buses. Ran home 3/4 of a mile.

Thursday, 15^th February, 1968

This morning we flashed out to Holland Park and met Lloyd from NZ and bussed to Osterley where we played rugby for the B team, Phil in the centre and I played left wing. I scored a try after Phil set me up in the corner.  We won six nil against Beckenham. Hot bath afterward with fifty others. Was impressive as all sang songs, sober and all harmonising, sounded really good. Afterwards the usual supper and much beer and singing of Rugby Songs followed. An enjoyable evening.

14 Oaklands Road, Cricklewood  18/2/1968

They turned the clocks back one hour last night so we had an extra hour’s sleep as daylight saving time will be in use all year round now not just in summer as before. This means at present it will get dark about 6:30 pm now instead of 4:00 pm as it was in the height of winter. I still have pleasant memories of last summer’s evenings in England when it wasn’t getting dark till around 10:00 pm and we were playing footy in the park at 9:00 pm. How is the move for daylight saving time going in Australia? It’s a great idea. We waste half our daylight hours in bed particularly in summer time at home. 

14 Oaklands Road, Cricklewood  25th February 1968

I’m on hols for a week now as I’ve worked a whole six weeks without a holiday so I need a rest.  The vacation system in English schools is great as the terms fly by in no time – I don’t think too many teachers here have nervous breakdowns.  Phil and I have decided to hire a mini for four days and drive up around the midlands towns and have a bit of a look at a few smaller country towns – it’ll be a change to get out of the city for a while.

We were out the Rugby Club last Friday night when Acker Bilk and his jazz band played – they were terrific, voted number one jazz group in the US last week.  It’s a few miles out to the club but went out in Cilla’s mini. The breathalyser test has everyone over here scared to drink and drive but road deaths have been down 25% since its introduction so it’s having a good effect, even if damned inconvenient.  The standard joke is, “So I’ve blown up the balloon, where’s the party, then?”

No good sending over any clothes.  I’ve bought a few replacement things but the old bank balance is tumbling.  I got a Kodak Instamatic 300 camera up the street – it’s the one with the built in light meter and superseded model as the flash fitting is single bulbs instead of cubes but just as good.  The worst part about losing my other camera was the 16 good shots on the reel, such as one of the four of us playing Roman Soldiers, fighting off the Picts and Scots in the snow on the Roman wall up north and another of us having a duel on the duelling grounds at Hamstead Heath surrounded by the mist.

Tomorrow night we’re going to see “Sweet Charity”, a musical play starring Juliet Prowse (Frank Sinatra’s ex-girlfriend) which is supposed to be very good.

We haven’t heard from Keith for about 4 or 5 weeks – he must be working hard.  I’ll bet it’s a bit of a shock to the system.  Phil sends his regards.  Jack, you owe me a letter.  What’s the new job and send me a pic of the car.  How are you Gail?  Taking it easy I hope.  That’s it for now.  

14 Oaklands Road, Cricklewood, NW2, London 5th March 1968

Did you receive my card from Coniston? (Ed. Will’s parents lived in Coniston, Australia). If you did you will discover Phil and I ended up hiring a Viva for a week and motoring around England exploring a few towns and cities we hadn’t seen.

We were very impressed with the Yorkshire Dales and the sun shone on the snow for two whole days but Lake Windermere and Coniston Waters were shrouded in mist. We found some great walled towns with 10th to 13th century castles, cathedrals, houses, shops and pubs built centuries before, still in use, very atmospheric. The towns of Chester and Shrewsbury were almost completely original and said to be England’s most complete mediaeval cities. Stayed one night in North Wales and then dropped back into Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford on Avon which is very pretty also with many old half timbered houses leaning in all directions but preserved for the future. All in all a very pleasant holiday although not too cheap £7 each for car hire and petrol expensive but hostelling and food costs are quite cheap although we had to stay in a bed and breakfast one night as no nearby hostel was open.

14 Oaklands Road, Cricklewood, NW2, London 18th March 1968

I received your aerogramme last Monday and the letter with the pics and DA label today.  I enjoyed the photos and seeing everyone drinking cold beer and standing around in shorts and short sleeved shirts in the evening sun. – brings back pleasant memories.  I took one of the girls on the staff (Cilla) to see the movie “Endless Summer” the other week and they had some shots of surfing in Australia.  It looked great.  Cilla is giving the teaching away in the summer as she’s in the process of getting a job as an air hostess – about the only way you could afford to see the world as a schoolie in England as you’d never be able to pay your own fare otherwise.

While I’m mentioning pay, a new rise of £75 per annum (30/-) a week is coming through next week for schools classified as “Priority” (such as Essendine) because of under-privileged kids, high numbers of immigrants and above 30% of kids getting free dinners.  This won’t go astray and since the boss has been at me for some time to stay for 3^rd term I’ve decided to do just that since I’ll get paid for 7 weeks holidays out of 17 weeks in the term.  This means I’ll spend one week (free board) with the kids at camp in Sussex during school term.

I hope to Christ the Aussies kill the Poms in the cricket, though as the boss is big time in the cricket organising circle and I’ll cop the heckles if we don’t.  Lords is just up the road, so I’ll be able to walk up after school to watch a few overs.

This afternoon I had an appointment at the opticians, and he says my eyes aren’t too good (my left one anyway) and I’m getting glasses for £4/10/-.  The rest, doctors and other fees are all paid by National Health (free). He says I should wear them most of the time but doubt if I will.

Rugby is still enjoyable but only 3 games left now.  I served at the bar after and am quite an expert at serving “a pint of bitter” now.

We move out of this flat on April the 6^th and I’ll probably get a small flat for next term, possibly with Phil although he hasn’t decided whether he’ll stay yet or go to Canada.  He’s teaching at a Physically Handicapped school at the moment where they have breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea plus one hour’s nap each day, all free! So he’s on a good thing but doesn’t know if he can get a permanent job in 3^rd term.

Send mail via the O.V.C. from now on until I let you know of my new address after the hols.

c/- OVC,180 Earl’s Court Road, London SWS. England, 26th March 1968

Was down the O.V.C. last Friday night – 1^st time in a month and casually checked the mail desk for mail, not expecting any as it’s quite promptly forwarded to our flat and was pleasantly surprised to collect your letter, Dad! It made enjoyable reading, so I settled back with an ‘alf of bitter and read it there! Good work!

Phil’s currently down the laundromat – a favourite spot for getting letters written, as I have to knock over 6 or 7 a week and am suffering from a damaged rib – product of Saturday’s Rugby game. Saw the doctor this arvo and have to go to the hospital for an X-ray tomorrow morning.  It may be fractured but I’m hoping its only bruised as there are two games left this season.  I got promoted to the “A” Team last Saturday – (this is really the 3^rd side) and had to play centre instead of my usual loaf on the wing.  I got a big wrap for my tackling (around the ankles).  The Poms are rapt as not too many tackle properly but hardly got an attacking run as they monopolized the lineouts.

Enough of Rugby, except to say Phil has struck good form now and has been promoted to 1^st grade and had another good game Saturday so should hold his position with ease.  Of course, Saturday night after the game was really sensational- no one had to drive as we had a coach and therefore no fear of breathalyser tests (which have everyone scared to “drink and drive”) so are very successful and we went through a high repertoire of Rugby Songs.  Got home all right though as someone put me on the right train.

Saw the movie, “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”.  Make sure you see it.  Very good

Taking Cilla to the theatre tomorrow night to see a play and another of the girls on the staff invited me to a party so social life is looking up.  I’m elected to run the “Grand National” sweep at school and the Oxford-Cambridge boat race is also on next Saturday – great excitement here but I’m not too excited.

c/- OVC,180 Earl’s Court Road,London SWS,England. 26th March 1968

How’s the new addition and the new father, mother and grandparents?  Hope you received my card, Jack and Gail?.  I haven’t collected any mail for the last couple of days as the O.V. are holding it so am looking forward to further news.

I leave tomorrow for Milan, Italy so am just doing some washing tonight and then packing my bag.  Have been staying at a nice bed and breakfast place for the last 5 nights and have the rest of my luggage stored at school.  We broke up today as it is the end of second term and it will be great to get away from the more difficult kids for a while.  Some, however, are quite good kids and one brought me a cake , another a box of chocolates , more cake and some nice birthday wishes yesterday.  I told them I was 21 but they reckon I am 24- a vicious rumour.  Celebrated my 23^rd quite well though.  Cilla fed me on Guinness stout and caviar (Danish) on toast round her place in the afternoon and we went into the Rooftop Bar at the London Hilton at 5.30pm for a couple of whiskies.  It’s 25 floors high (second tallest building in London) and overlooks Buckingham Palace Grounds, so you can see Queen Liz and Phil going for a stroll with the corgis, round their private lake and tennis courts etc. But at 14/- for two whiskies and tonic it’s a bit dear even if you do get free peanuts.  Finished the evening at Lord’s Tavern near the cricket ground so was an enjoyable evening if a trifle expensive.

Phil just got his insurance rebate of £100 for the robbery and is happy with that as he didn’t lose anywhere near as much as me.  The rugby is over until next September.  Phil played in the first-grade side last Sunday and was one of the star players scoring two tries.  My rib is 90% now and am just about fit again so had better start swimming or squash to get fit in the summer.