February 16, 2012 : Leslie Samuels (nee Blake)

I stayed with my parents at the OVC in 1959 when my Dad was on leave from Kenya doing a masters at Imperial College. For a Kenya kid a year in Kensington was a dream come true, together with the boat rides to and from the UK, and the trips on the Continent. It forever cemented my wander lust, which my poor husband has to work overtime to fund. I was Googling the OVC as we will be in London in June and staying in Kensington and i wanted to show my family my old haunts. Alas much has changed, my old school, Allendale is no more, and the OVC seems to have ceased functioning a while back. But those were good times!

I married a Rhodesian, and we now live in rural Idaho in the States. Our visits to London in the past have been brief overnight stays, usually en route to and from Africa when Heathrow has been closed, so I have not really been back to explore things since I was in high school in Kent in 1971. We are spending a few days in Kensington in June and I am waxing nostalgic about those idyllic days, and want Brian and the kids to experience it with me. I am terribly excited about it all!

I love your web site, and admire your spirit!

Lesley

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December 19, 2011 : Bill Young

I first went over with the OVC from Salisbury, Rhodesia, as it was then, early in 1962 and stayed until 1964. In between jobs with the OVC I spent three months backpacking around Europe with a girlfriend. Later I met an Aussie girl who was to become my wife. We enjoyed some great trips driving around Britain but then decided that backpacking overland to Rhodesia would be a great adventure. A carefully planned trip using rail and paddle steamers up the Nile seemed the easiest and, according to the OVC travel adviser, should have taken four to six weeks. However, delays at borders and the Nile being blocked with weed resulted in  visas and permits expiring en route which required multiple visits to different government departments in Khartoum to validate our situation. Eventually we arrived, skinny and threadbare, after three and a half months travelling through desert, swamp, jungle and bush!!!

Regards… Bill
Kallaroo WA 6025 Australia
Email Address

December 18, 2011 : JP

Thanks Bill

I’ve inserted Di’s name in the appropriate place on Lester’s Photo Page. Do you mind if I turn your email into a post on the ‘Readers Letters’ page? Would be a safer way to handle your signature detail perhaps… Let me know – also the years you were there?

Regards JP

December 17, 2011: Bill Young

Hi John,

I was looking through the OVC section of your Old Blue Truck website which revived pleasant memories of the great times we had in Earl’s Court in the early sixties. I made some good friends and met my wife, Fay, there – she sadly passed away last year.

While there I worked as a dishwasher at The Courtfield and as a porter at Kangaroo House in Nevern Square and Beaver House in Philbeach Gardens. Working as a porter I came into contact with a lovely lady based in the main building, Di Uys, who handled all the hotel bookings; I phoned her every day for about a year to confirm check-ins and check-outs . She is the lady in Lester’s photo #36.

Regards… Bill

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July 8, 2011 : Peter Henning

Hello there – my name is Peter Henning and we live in Buckingham UK, having moved across from Cape Town in March 2008. The following photos are from mid 1955 to mid 1956 (my first trip). The first photo was taken in Leeds. A few words about the crew of the taxi… Brian Rose (ex Cape Town) and my partner in the trips – me, looking thoroughly pissed off, sleeping outside, getting wet and hungry. Eddie Strick – South African Airways pilot who was murdered a few years ago on his farm north of Johannesburg – one of the joys of being a farmer in SA. Mercia Aldag (Port Elizabeth SA). Joan Slabbert (Cape Town). Moonyeen Asseton-Smith, Port Elizabeth, (of course called Arse End Smith – which caused dissention).

The second photo was taken in Calais on 9 October 1955. Lorna Anderson (NZ), Brian Rose, Margaret de Beer (Bechuanaland – now Botswana), Isobel Humphries (Bulawayo Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe), me, George Lewis (LA Calif), Vivian Dean (Palmeston North NZ).

Brian bought the taxi EXP 722, a 1930′s model for £20, we did not check on the mechanics as we realised that if we did we would never ride in it. Recruited four young ladies and set off on a four week round trip of the UK. Had to replace the exhaust and repair a puncture, otherwise no problems.

Back to the OVC where we recruited a new bunch of young ladies and over to the continent for five weeks – as far south as Rome then up into the main part of the continent. George Lewis was a wandering ex GI (Korea) who attached himself to us somewhere, can’t remember, and sponged off us the whole way. Back in London we got him into the OVC and we disappeared into the bed-sit world of Earls Court.

The taxi continued to be used and when the brakes packed in we sold it to Cuan Mc Carthy, an ex SA cricketer for £20.00. He was a fast bowler who ran through the British batsmen until they declared that his action was “throwing” and out he went, to farm somewhere in England. Brian moved to Perth WA in the mid seventies and died there a few years ago.

The 1963 card refers to the time my wife and I left Bulawayo and moved to the UK, stayed for about six months, could not take the weather so we emigrated to SA which we left three years ago as our sons and their wives and children are living in Oxford and SW London – and we want to be near the families. So the circle has travelled a full 360 degrees.

Hope that this is of interest.

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29 October, 2010 : John Rowe

John,

thanks for the reply. You know the more I think about it the more I am convinced that it was the OVC that played the Zambesi Club. Ihave several photos & there was a huge spread in the Melbourne Herald after the event. I will dig them up & see if I can send them to you.

Kind Regards,  John Rowe

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16 October, 2010 : John Rowe

hi, i PLAYED IN THE 1ST aUSSIE rULES FOOTY MATCH IN lONDON IN 62 OR 63.  the aussie club (cant remember the name) played the Zambesi Club on a rugby pitch on a freezing cold foggy day.  ANYONE REMEMBER IT? JOHN ROWE

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12 October, 2010 : Bob Davis

Hi John,

What a great discussion. I attach a copy of the article from the the “Seeking” column from the Sunday Herald Sun.

I follow “South Melbourne”.  Patersons is a WA based company. The dealing room was full of blue and yellow balloons in 2005 when the Eagles played South in the Grand final.  Being the only follower of the Swans, the lady taking the photo told me to put my finger up.  So I did.  I am wearing my Dad’s scarf. The rest is history.

Cheers, Bob

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12 October, 2010 : Bob Davis

To:  John Polson,

Am I on the right page / website ?

What a great read.  I am still working in stockbroking.

Where does one start ? I went to the UK in January 1962 on the Patris.

Please advise if I may correspond with you and others on this site and I will then tell you what I have been doing for the past 48 years. I note that you mention a Margaret Ellis from Melbourne and also that she is still in the UK.  If she ever returns to Melbourne, I would like to catch up. Alternatively, I may conatct her when I am next in London.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards, Bob

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11 October, 2010 : Bob Davis

Good morning,

I was first in London in 1962 and lodged at No8 Philbeach Gardens. It is a court that runs of Warwick Road near Old Cromwell Rd. I remember when the Club was originally on the Corner of Earls Court Rd, and also when the “New” Club was opened the same year.

I worked for an English sharebroking firm named Morton Bros on the corner of Gresham and Coleman Sts, in the “City”.  During the day I was a “yellow button”. I was allowed on the floor of the “house” to take messsages but I was not allowed to trade. You had to be a Blue Button to do that.  My boss was Mr Gilbert.

I have been back a few times over the past 10 years and always spend a day walking around Earls Court and enjoying a few beers at the Pubs.

Many great times were had I would be pleased to hear from any others that were in the UK in 1962.

Thank you, Bob Davis

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September 28, 2010 :  Bruce Fewings

Hi John,

Thank you for your reply.

We will be in Sydney all week for Trevor’s ‘send off’, (we live in Melbourne), but I look forward to not only letting those that will be attending, know about ‘the old blue truck’, but also writing a little on my father’s life.

Attatched is a recent photo of us with 2 of my 4 daughters!

I will send you a selection of photos which you can post at your descretion.

Kind Regards, Bruce Fewings

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September 26, 2010 :  Bruce Fewings

Hello All,

My father Trevor Fewings passed away today, 26/09/10, peacefully.
After a wonderful life of travel, a love of jazz music and a fine glass of wine, married to Barbie for the past 18 years. A great father who would keep us riveted to the dining table with stories of London and Europe in the 60s.
If you wish to contact me for more details I would be more than happy to reply.

Kind Regards,  Bruce Fewings
beansurf [at] bigpond [dot] net [dot] au

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There are several pages devoted to the early history of the OVC:

01.  New Book – ‘Earls Court, the OVC and Me‘
02.  Lester Jolly’s Pictures
03.  Brian Duffin (dec) - RSA
04.  Readers’ Letters and Photos