Somebody asked me in 1965, what did I miss most of all about leaving UK for Australia? I was 11 and there was one thing that I truly, deeply missed as I set foot in Essendon Airport. I was so sad and upset that I no longer lived at the centre of time. I was no longer in the place that invented time. Time was no longer based in my home. I was 11, perspectives change but at that time I was quite upset to depart the home of time.
London’s last contribution to this migrating Englisher was to teach me the 24 hour clock. It was so fitting to set the depart time of my BOAC Comet IV Jetliner at 1515. Yes - 50 years later I still know exactly what time we departed LHR. I asked dad what time 1515 was. He told me I had all the flight to Australia to figure it out and if I couldn’t he would tell me in Melbourne.
So where should I pilgrimage on my one day in London?
Greenwich!
London’s last contribution to this migrating Englisher was to teach me the 24 hour clock. It was so fitting to set the depart time of my BOAC Comet IV Jetliner at 1515. Yes - 50 years later I still know exactly what time we departed LHR. I asked dad what time 1515 was. He told me I had all the flight to Australia to figure it out and if I couldn’t he would tell me in Melbourne.
So where should I pilgrimage on my one day in London?
Greenwich!
The tube was an expensive commute again into the city but we coped. We took a long walk down to the Thames to find the river cruise to Greenwich. The city was its usual mess with the evenings garbage clogging footpaths. There was however much cleaning up going on. We did not know why but since discovered that the next day would be the Trouping of the Colours so the streets had to be clean.
We boarded the boat and took a seat on the roof for the 90 minute trip along the Thames. This is a great way to see the city and we did see all the main highlights visible from the river. The crew member who drew the short straw to make today’s commentary was excellent and very entertaining. His stories really brought the city to life. He really knew his stuff and told tales about everything we passed.
I think London must be a tour guide’s friend. There are not many gaps to ad lib. The city’s history goes back so far that there is a story at every corner.
We boarded the boat and took a seat on the roof for the 90 minute trip along the Thames. This is a great way to see the city and we did see all the main highlights visible from the river. The crew member who drew the short straw to make today’s commentary was excellent and very entertaining. His stories really brought the city to life. He really knew his stuff and told tales about everything we passed.
I think London must be a tour guide’s friend. There are not many gaps to ad lib. The city’s history goes back so far that there is a story at every corner.
Just walking through the streets you discover a story. We stumbled into a statue as we walked along of Viscount Slim. We were sure that was a cigarette brand from years ago. (It wasn’t, the brand was Virginia Slims but took a while to recall that.) Viscount Slim - why was he important? He was Australia’s Governor General 1953 - 1959. I had never heard of him, but here is a statue to his greatness. He was important to Australians because he actually fought with the ANZACs at Gallipoli.
So much history literally waiting to be tripped over. That must make great fodder for the tour commentator.
So much history literally waiting to be tripped over. That must make great fodder for the tour commentator.
We left the boat at Greenwich and walked up the hill to the observatory. The place was of course crowded with school groups old and young. The queue to stand straddling the actual meridian was massive and I did not bother. I was more taken with the Shepherd 24 hour clock. It was one of the first electrically driven public clocks. It always tells GMT (now called UTC I know but I am in Greenwich) and is accurate to half a second. And… it was installed more than 100 years before I was born. This was significant to me… I loved it.
Now I need to admit a crime at this time.
We went into the gift shop… you have to right!
At the back of the gift shop is a stair to view a telescope. It was an open, sign-posted door to another exhibit and I wandered through it up to the telescope. I wandered all about following the only track available at the time, arrows this way and keep out signs that way. I finally emerged in the actual gardens. I had not paid a fee. I was not asked for a ticket. I was just there, inside, behind the paywall. I am still not sure how I got there but it happened. It was unintentional, honest! We did however find some less scrupulous people who seemed to know it was a way in and were intentionally using it. We went back to the gift shop and then on our way back to town.
Greenwich was a major joy for me. I loved it all.
I have already written far too much about the other side of London so I will leave it there. The river trip and the time in Greenwich was a fantastic way to pass a day.
Now I need to admit a crime at this time.
We went into the gift shop… you have to right!
At the back of the gift shop is a stair to view a telescope. It was an open, sign-posted door to another exhibit and I wandered through it up to the telescope. I wandered all about following the only track available at the time, arrows this way and keep out signs that way. I finally emerged in the actual gardens. I had not paid a fee. I was not asked for a ticket. I was just there, inside, behind the paywall. I am still not sure how I got there but it happened. It was unintentional, honest! We did however find some less scrupulous people who seemed to know it was a way in and were intentionally using it. We went back to the gift shop and then on our way back to town.
Greenwich was a major joy for me. I loved it all.
I have already written far too much about the other side of London so I will leave it there. The river trip and the time in Greenwich was a fantastic way to pass a day.
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