In March 1969 I came from Australia to London as a quasi-political refugee. The Australian people had recently voted overwhelmingly to increase their Military presence in Vietnam. To me there was no mitigating circumstances concerning Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War – why we were there was beyond my comprehension – to me it was simply wrong and could not be excused. I had the deep conviction it was shameful. The Australian people and by default myself were involved in a great immorality. You could ask why do you care but to me this was no small thing. It was best if I left. Thankfully the British Labour Government did not support America’s policy in Vietnam. They seemed to me to be the conscience of the Western World. It was fortunate I could come to England. On arrival I immediately felt at home. I knew instinctively I was at home. I felt I belonged here. Very quickly I came to love Britain and I loved living in London. I felt attuned to the British People. I felt I was amongst my peers. I felt welcomed. I felt British. I was interested in everything and felt involved in everything. I appreciated the green and pleasant land. Britain was in me. I knew I would always be part of Britain. I knew that part of me would always be British.
I could only stay 2 years. I have lived with a distinct sense of living in exile ever since.
At long last I have returned. The following are what has changed in the past 42 years.
The standard of living has improved greatly.
In 1969 it is fair to say that Australia’s standard of living was higher than Britain’s. Now I have to say that the standard of living at least in London if not all the country is higher than that in Australia. It goes without saying that this is slightly shocking for an Australian to admit. I base this opinion only partly on the obvious – cars – clothes – food – housing – salaries – the general health of the population - the big increase in retail and food outlets – price of real estate - normal things on which the standard of living is based. I however base my opinion primarily on the fact that in 2014 it is not possible to tell by how they look whether children go to state schools or private schools. In 1969 it was glaringly obvious. In 2014 all children look well fed – well cared for – cherished – healthy. They all look like they have had money spent on them. They all look happy and well balanced. They look well cared for. State School children are the same size as Private School children. The Private School children may have fancier uniforms which experts can distinguish but the State School children look equally as smart and well cared for. This indicates an impressive increase in the overall standard of living.
The Public Transport System is even better than it was 42 years ago.
In 1969 the Public Transport System was excellent. It is hard to comprehend that it could be improved but it has. Amazingly in fact. In 2014 it is more than excellent. Obviously there are several more tube lines. Money has been spent wisely. The bus system has been increased in scope and all buses are modern and comfortable. The Oyster Card system works well. The public move through the system with the minimum of fuss. Transport Officers at every station are reassuringly helpful and well presented. They appear to have pride in their job. This is in contrast to London Transport workers of 1969 who all looked depressed and downtrodden. But to be fair at that time their jobs had no hint of glamour. The papers were full of adds asking people to become London Transport Workers. I could have worked for London Transport. In hindsight I should have but my excuse is I was influenced by public opinion.
The women are bigger and stronger – more powerful.
In 1969 the girls my age were all small and elfin looking. They were thin. Admittedly they were beautiful. They all wore fur coats. Short skirts. They had long legs. But in 2014 its obvious Women have changed. One pointer is that in 1969 a majority of the advertising posters lining the escalators on the tube were of young women in provocative underwear. One could enjoy the trip up and down the escalators. Most other posters were for Employment Agencies aimed at girl temps. Not so in 2014. Posters of both types have disappeared. Employment Agencies aimed at women and using women to advertise provocative underwear has ceased. The posters now relate sensible public service announcements. This indicates the changes that have occurred in women’s lives. In 2014 women are much much larger – they have increased in size by about one third. They are much physically stronger. They all look powerful. They have progressed from Secretarial to Managerial. They walk around all day talking business on their mobile phones. Their personalities shine through though. They all look sophisticated, well informed and well balanced – decent - nice. They all look happy and at ease with the world. There are a disproportionate number of beautiful dark skinned girls of Afro Caribbean descent. All women are if anything even more beautiful than in 1969. One morning on the tube I watched a girl put on her makeup. When she had finished she fished her contraceptive pill holder out of her handbag and with a quick flash of her eyes to see if anyone was watching she swallowed her daily requirement. I reflected ruefully that if my 29 year old unmarried son could get such a girl what a marvelous life he would have. The women of London are simply wonderful. They will in time rule the world. I should have a card to hand out advising to all that my son is unmarried and available.
London must have been swamped with money.
There are so many new buildings. Some good – some bad – mostly indifferent. There are even today a plethora of cranes building new buildings. London has been pretty well rebuilt and it looks as if it is in the process of being totally rebuilt again. One has to ask the question – have the developers been tested for performance enhancing steroids? Have they sometimes gone over the top? The answer to this rhetorical question is yes. Any old building not previously knocked down is now covered in plastic and has scaffolds attached and is being rebuilt or renovated. It must be wonderful to be a politician in power in London. No project would ever need to be short of money. Investors must queue up to throw their money on the table. So much money must pour in – if any project should run into money worries – no problem - money is always available elsewhere. And look what has happened. The East End of 1969 has disappeared. It no longer exists. There is a whole new international city there. No cargo boats or ships any longer tie up to docks. Barges no longer go up and down the Thames. There is even an airport in the East End. Does anyone who lived in the East End in 1969 still live there? If they do how do they afford it? Where did they go to? Also pretty well the whole of the Southbank has been changed. They have at least kept the one big concrete building – even though they let weeds grow in the cracks – BUT they have not kept one gas lamp. In 1969 one of the great things to do in the winter was to watch the gas lamps come on and see the lights reflected in the Thames.
London is no longer cold
Central Heating has been installed in every house. In every public building as well. The temperature on the tube system has been turned up to eleven. Every public space is overheated. Everywhere has been hotted up to the point of being uncomfortable. You have to go outside to breathe fresh air and see what the temperature is. No house is cold inside. The government’s policy on Insulation has been effective. The English have taken to central heating with a vengeance. There is no need to sit over the electric heater as in 1969. In 1969 how many buildings were centrally heated? None that I know of.
The Tourism industry has gone crazy.
Compared to 2014 the tourist industry did not exist in 1969. The number of tourists appears to have increased at least ten fold. London is teeming with tourists. Can I tell you that despite some Brits being skeptical about Europe you must accept that Europeans love London. They are here in their seemingly millions. It is hard to walk the streets for the number of tourists. In 1969 there may have been little groups of 30 or so congregating in Piccadilly Circus in the evening to compare notes and perhaps sing songs of home. Not now. Just look at the number of planes flying over London. Just look at the increase in size of Heathrow. And tourism must be such a big money spinner. It must bring in foreign currency by the truckload. Tourism has definitely changed. In 1969 most public building were open to everyone and were free to enter. You could walk in the front door of most quite important public buildings and walk around without hindrance. I won’t tell you which ones – you wouldn’t believe me. But not now in 2014. Pretty well everything is (from an Australian point of view) costly to enter. And every tourist site in November is full of tourists. In summer it must be crazy. There are now twice as many live theatres. And over 50% seem to cater only to tourists. The standard of theatre is not the same as 1969. In 2014 many shows give the impression of being manufactured in a sausage factory. I know the tourist industry has to be catered for but I don’t feel I can attend. Unfortunately Theatre is not as serious as it was in 1969.
The food has changed
In October 2014 I did see one man in a restaurant with a plate that contained baked beans, two fried eggs, two slices of bacon, one fried tomato, two sausages and a selection of chips – all on the one plate. This is more or less what food was like in 1969. Now it is very different. Whatever happened to the English hatred of foreign food? Specifically European food? In 2014 French and Italian food is everywhere.Everyone eats healthy foreign food. Also there are less Indian Restaurants and those that still exist have gone up market. Why is this? Where is the old Indian Take away? And another thing - where did all the Wine Shops come from? In 1969 there may have been two wine outlets in the whole of London. If we are honest there most probably only one. The English did not drink wine in 1969. What has happened to the English? When did they start drinking wine? Can they be really serious about pulling out of Europe – the evidence does not point to it.
The standard of housing
In 1969 there was a lot of substandard housing. I know because I lived in a basement flat that would get water on the floor if it rained all night. We had to put down boards because the girls needed to be able to walk from the bathroom to their bedrooms without getting their feet wet. When I was in London I had two flats – both in Earls Court. Both could have been classed substandard. One had rising damp – one had real damp. But I didn’t care. I loved both flats. I knew I was privileged to live in them. In the first flat four males shared two bedrooms. In the second three girls and two boys shared three bedrooms. In 2014 I was able to inspect both flats. In the first building three flats on three floors have been converted to four floors but one luxurious apartment. The other is still a basement flat but the floor level and interior has been changed completely to suit a young couple. Both have extremely up to date plumbing. It seems that pretty well every house in London has been done up. Why is this? Where is the substandard housing and plumbing that we used to know and love? And to admit that it sometimes attracted derogatory Australian comments. It no longer exists now it seems to me. Earls Court has gone up market completely. How I loved the seedy side of Earls Court. Where has it gone? And why has it gone? Why could it not exist even in a small way for people like me? And the eccentrically dressed people who always congregated outside Earls Court Tube. Where have they gone? To be brutal – I suspect the increased standard of living that Europe has produced has swallowed them up. Oh well – what can I say – as a dedicated European I would vote for entry also.
There are definitely less Public Toilets.
As a man aged in his late 60’s I ask why is there such a shortage of public toilets? When a man reaches a certain age his body turns into a urine producing machine. He need access to public toilets – often. In 2014 I have experienced severe pain too often because public toilets are simply not available. And when I knew that certain buildings would have to have toilets inside them often there were signs at the front door saying the toilets were only available to customers. Where official Public Toilets are still open the price to enter was now 50 new pence. This is quite an increase on the price of 1969. The toilets in Leicester Square in 1969 cost 1 old penny to use and this was considered excessive. There is a massive inflationary increase here. But I have to admit that at times I have been in so much pain I have paid up thankfully. Can we have more Public Toilets please.
Obvious changes without any obvious explanation.
There are more homeless men. There are even homeless women. There are beggars on the streets – both men and women. This is shocking to me. In 1969 there were only two homeless men in the whole of London and there were absolutely no beggars. This is true – ask anyone who lived and worked in London at this time.I know because I used to see one of the homeless men sleeping on a seat on one of the Northern Line stations each morning. We used to talk about him at work and compare notes as to where he was each day. He moved from station to station. The other one lived permanently above an air outlet at the back of the Ritz Hotel. The Hotel expelled its hot air in a back alley through a pipe coming up from under the building and he slept there because it was warm. If you don’t believe me look up a Sunday Times supplement from that time. They wrote a big story about it. Now there are both homeless men and women and both men and women beggars. Plus believe it or not a number have their own guard dogs. Something else where London leads the world – security for beggars. Why is this when the society is so prosperous? Do all these homeless people have no other option? There are also a surprising number of Islamic woman beggars. Ones prejudices say that the Islamic Community is monolithic and looks after its own. If this is so why are there Muslim woman beggars? Can anyone explain? And how much are you to give beggars? Both those sound of wind and limb and those who are not? Are you supposed to give Islamic women more than other women? A woman beggar in a full hijab is a shock. In 1969 all would have been taken care of by various government authorities. In 1969 there was full employment – and I mean full employment – everyone had a job. This obviously makes a difference. When did full employment cease to be part of the English government DNA? In 1969 full employment was built into the British Psyche. When did this cease to be? In 2014 it’s obvious there are many unemployed. Too many. What has happened to the Welfare State?
The Police are different The police look different. They no longer walk the beat. In 1969 you could walk up to an individual and ask how to get to a certain tourist attraction. I actually did it a few times. They didn't seem to mind. Now they drive cars and ride motorbikes. Not the under powered inexpensive looking cars you sometimes saw in 1969. Not the weak looking motorbikes no biker would be seen on. Now they have up to the minute looking cars and bikes. The best that money can buy. Their sirens are loud and serious sounding. They move the traffic off the street in seconds. And some Police have guns. Big Guns. And they wear flack jackets.
Obvious changes with obvious explanations
Television has been diluted. There are a multitude of new channels but the overall standard of television is definitely lower. BBC television is still good but it is no longer a joy.Like all Public Bodies they have had to make concessions to prejudice. BBC television now has a lot of tabloid type programmes that do not follow the precepts of Inform Educate Entertain. The continual hacking away by the Tabloids has definitely had an effect – this disappointingly proves water torture by the drip system works - at least in the minds of the BBC Governors. BBC Radio however is still a joy. It has kept up its standards. The total service provided by the BBC overall is unique in the world. Do the British know this? If they do why don’t they care? Unfortunately most of the media appears to have gone over to the tabloid mentality. Why do the tabloids see the BBC as their enemy? Who can explain this? In 1969 I read The Times every day and on Sundays I read both The Times and The Observer. I used to do this for pure pleasure alone. In 2014 The Times and the Observer are both still worthwhile papers and still enjoyable to read. But The Times is less comprehensive and does not go to the same lengths to hide its bias. In 1969 it tried very hard to be unbiased. I also used to read Private Eye. I’m pleased to say that I still can.
Buskers Have Changed
There is a lesser number and a lesser variety. And like Dylan they have gone electric. They have their own power packs. A lot have electric guitars as per Billie Bragg. There are no street jazz bands. There are no piano accordions. But there is a plethora of what is called street art or art installations. These did not exist in 1969. It is harder to judge talent when only street art is on display. It raises the problem of just who does one contribute to? Who is most worthy? Are they doing this for art? In 1969 all buskers were talented and artistic. In 1969 every Thursday morning a one legged man would come and play his accordion outside our office window. I found this civilizing. Does it ever happen now?
Soccer has moved on
In 1969 it was not unusual for me to talk to a colleague at work on a Wednesday afternoon and we would decide to attend a midweek Tottenham Hotspur Game that night. We would eat at the Telecom Staff canteen just off The Strand before heading off to Whiteheart Lane. It was all very relaxing and civilized. On Saturday if Arsenal were playing at home I might go to Highbury. Not anymore. No Sir. It’s simply not possible. Life has moved on. Soccer has changed its name to Football and has gone global. So have the entry prices. And so has the availability of seats.
Australia House is locked and bolted
Australia House in 1969 was both a haven and a refuge for Australians. They would congregate there to take in something of the atmosphere of Australia. They could meet their friends there. They could pick up mail there. They could read the papers. They could just sit and relax. Now it is not possible to enter the building. It is well and truly locked and bolted. This is blamed on 9/11. Could it be because of this or could it be a matter of money? There are NO Australian Banks in London. They have also departed and gone home. In 2014 everything runs on money.
The Red/Grey Squirrel War
It’s obvious who has won. This war has been reported on in the rest of the world but I am surprised that the victory is so complete. Every evening after tea at my boarding house in Muswell Hill in 1969 I used to relax by watching Red Squirrels play in the trees outside our dining room window. They lived in family groups and would play until it got dark. I found this very enjoyable. I felt it was very English. I did not see one Grey Squirrel in London. Now there are no Red Squirrels and the Grey Squirrels have the human beings all trained to do exactly what they want them to do. How smart are they. This proves Brains will always beat Brawn.
Two odd changes
In Australia we have problems with two plants that have been imported from England and have become what are termed noxious weeds – thistles and blackberries. In 1969 I did not see a thistle outside Scotland and I cannot recall any blackberries growing wild anywhere. Indeed in 1969 crowds would gather and there would be a busker playing bagpipes where ever a thistle was growing wild in the Scottish Highlands. A live Scotch Thistle was a genuine tourist attraction – a patriotic object even. In 2014 both blackberries and thistles look like they have become a problem. Both are very much in evidence. Blackberries grow wild along railway lines and the sides of roads. Thistles grow in paddocks where cattle graze. Is this a problem? Global warming sceptics please advise.
First/Last – Some Real History
I can proudly claim to have seen the first and last – 42 years apart. I watched Monty Python the very first time they appeared on TV and I watched them the last time they appeared on TV. In 1969 I was home alone one Sunday night. The TV guide said there was something on about a circus late in the evening. I thought that seeing I was on my own - why not watch it. I had of course been to many circuses in my childhood and it might prompt memories. I don’t know if I would have suggested watching something as lame as circuses if all or any of my flat mates had also been home. It came on at 10.30 on one Sunday night without any publicity whatever. I watched and was amazed. I immediately recognized its genius. It was funny and clever. It made fun of conventional comedy. It was understood it was protesting about what was not right with the world. It knew what was wrong with the world. It made fun of the world. It made fun of modern conventions. It made fun of old conventions. It was both mature and childish. It made fun of important people and institutions. It was laugh out loud funny. It had moments of immense silliness. It didn’t take itself seriously. It was reminding us that the world needed to be changed. It was genuinely subversive. In 2014 I also watched them the last time they would appear on TV. History sometimes appears in unusual ways. In time these two dates will be recognized as an important first and last in the History of Great Britain. I was privileged to be present on both occasions.
Summing Up
London is still wonderful. It is a privilege to live here. I’m sure you all know this. But to admit something important I have to recognize that London has become homogenized. For instance everyone in The City looks the same. No one wears ties. Or bowlers. It could be anywhere in the world. The class system is no longer on show anywhere. Maybe it doesn’t exist anymore. There are less eccentric people on show. The removal of the grants system in education means that a lesser number of pure eccentrics are produced by universities. In 1969 it was impossible to feel weird because there were so many people more weirder than you were. I had many conversations with people on this very topic. I still miss this wonderful feeling. London is such an accepting city. I knew I was a member of a fraternity of good people. It was a privilege to live among eccentric people. In 1969 London was probably a more friendly place but the basic feeling London engenders today is still the same. It is immediately apparent on arrival. It still excites the imagination. London had a distinct moral edge to its existence. I remember I had a conversation in 1969 with a Young Socialist on exactly this subject. I made him admit that London itself was somehow above politics and that Marxist dogma did not apply. Believe me this was something for a Trotskyist to admit. I knew that both privileged and underprivileged could be equal in their admiration and enjoyment of London. It is still the same. London still has its great sense of morality. London is a city of a thousand villages and is the greatest city in the world. As a moralist I readily recognise its moral authenticity and I admire its moral standards. Can I say all this without a frog in my throat? No I cannot. I love London. It is my town. Despite all the changes it still retains all of what I consider is moral in this World. London is a unique country that has always existed no matter who claimed it as his. Me included.
What Actually Happened
On the 14th of October 2014 I arrived at 5.30 in the morning at Heathrow. I was full of excitement. I jumped on the Piccadilly line. I almost embraced all the other passengers. Should I tell them how I felt? How wonderful it was to be here? I wanted to tell them I was one of them. Would they understand the sheer happiness of a returned exiled Australian? Maybe. Maybe not. The stations ran off my tongue like magic. Hounslow – Barons Court – Hammersmith – Earls Court. I was intoxicated. I got off at Earls Court to check out my old flat. It was still there but my local pub was boarded up. My flat had unfortunately been done up and the new owner was unfriendly and didn’t want to talk to an Australian who had lived there 40 years ago. The renovated apartment could not in the slightest be called seedy and was obviously out of my grasp economically. This was a bit of a setback. But ultimately it didn’t matter. Nothing could disturb my happiness. I had at long last re integrated into Britain. I was home.