Pre-oyster card... GO-AS-YOU-PLEASE @LONDON TRANSPORT
Pass for 7 days of travel on London Transport Underground and Red Buses.
The prettiest girl of our class, American by the name of Alison, was met by her host family
in a Bentley (if memory serves). I was picked up by this strange vehicle, which was so
underpowered it almast failed to deal with the railcrossing near my place of stay
with the family Goulding on Lancaster Rd in Barnet.
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My busline 107 (here 'Queensbury Station').
At first I walked a lot but soon I got my courage up and
took the bus to a subway station.
It was the first trip abroad (more or less) on my own, it made quite an impression ath the time.
One of our excusions was to the musical Hair.
Eye-opener for us teenagers, but when the nudity arrived on stage, it felt quite normal!
One of the excursions by coach.
Class being adressed by our host in England. Our teacher English, Mr Vellekoop, on the right (beard)
The class seem to have their attention elsewhere.
I had a splendid trip, felt empowered and my father confirmed
that
years later, he found I had matured considerably by this trip. Thanks Dad!
In April 1971 the school I was on, Coolsma Institute, organized a student exchange with pupils of 3rd grade (M.A.V.O.) to London. As it turned out it was one sided because the Brits didn't come to Holland.
Teachers Mr A.A. Vellekoop (English) and Miss G.W. van Ankeren
(History) were the organizers and joined us.
My mother had doubts because she considered the fee (Dfl 500?) considerable but my father was the positive supporter and joined the briefings at school previous to the trip. I was 15 years old at the time.
Upon our arrival (April 19th, 20:00) at Liverpool Street Station and transfer by coach to Odeon Cinema (21:00) we were met by our respective host families.
We were handed out a day-to-day program which included the adresses in London of both our teachers and also on the daily program were named the metro stations or meeting points for our map.
We were issued with a London busmap and the London Transport Underground map of lines.
April 19th-23rd we had English (conversation) lessons in the morning, coach trips afterwards. Same 27-30/4. Monday May rd was our departure.
{Note aside: why did my father never mentioned he had stayed in Feb 1946 in Cadogan@London, after WW2 had ended, after his arrival @Southend docks as a refugee from prison camps on Java? I found out only after his passing in 2008}.
I kept the 1971 essay I'd made for school to this day, including the various souvenirs.
The family I stayed with resided in (New?) Barnet, Herts. They were very kind but she hailed from Jewish ancestry so I ate few English meals (but I welcomed her more exotic cooking!). I had a very pleasant stay and it proved to be a milestone in my growing up (and liking England probably!). |
Photos © Ruud Leeuw
