Dad’s Europe Coach Tour 1955
Dover-Boulogne crossing both ways
Reims 22July
Chaumont 22 July Basel 23 July
Sursee 23 July
Paris 27 July Nancy 26 July
Interlaken 23-25 July
In July 1955 our Dad, a junior doctor in Greenock, took a short coach tour of France and Switzerland. He faithfully sent postcards to his mum and aunt (Ada) from each place they visited. Little did he know then that he was to return to Basel 13 years later as a medical researcher, and that the family have continued the tradition of exploring Switzerland and other parts of Europe ever since. Here are the postcards and his comments he sent; in many ways little has changed, although the reference to war damage in Nancy reminds us that the War had only ended 10 years previously. Dad’s writing remained the same 1
Reims, Marne, France
22nd July 1955 Dear Mum & Ada We had a pleasant journey from Maidstone to Dover, then over on the cross channel ferry to Boulogne, then on through Arras to Rheims. The French countryside is very picturesque but we had a lot of rain this afternoon. However I am sitting on a sidewalk cafe having a superb cup of coffee 2 and watching the world go by. It’s a great life! Love Robin
Chaumont, Haut Marne, France-Lunch Break
Dear Mum and Ada We stopped here for lunch today before proceeding to Basle for the night. The weather is cloudy but dry. Enjoying the trip and everything is very interesting. 3 Love Robin x
Contents
Basel, Switzerland-Hotel Schweizerhof
Saturday 23.7.55 Dear mum This is a picture of our hotel. This is a most amazing town and has an almost fantastically luxurious shopping centre where you can buy anything from a post card to an American car. Here’s your postcard! Love Robin 4
Hotel Hirschen, Sursee : “Naturally every car stops in front of this house�
23-7-55 Dear Ada We have now left Basel after a very pleasant but brief stay here. You would love the shops. WE are no proceeding on our way to Interlacken and have stopped for lunch at this reputedly world famous restaurant. Love Robin
Restaurant still going strong: http://www.hirschen-sursee.ch 5
“Palace of Ice”, Jungfrau, Switzerland
25-7-55 Dear Ada Thanks very much for your letter. I am glad to hear that Dr Allan is improved. This scene shows inside the palace of ice, carved out of solid ice in the Jungfrau Mountain. I was here today. Love “Wee Robin” 6
Jungfrau, Switzerland
25-7-55 Dear Mum and Ada I purchased this card at over 11 000 feet. The scene shows the train climbing the hill. Magnificent scenery. Just wonderful. Love Robin 7
Jungfrau, Switzerland
25-7-55 Dear Mum I had a wonderful trip up to the Jungfrau mountain by cog wheel railway to a height of over 11 000 feet ( two miles high). Spent about four hours on mountain and I was skiing and riding dog sled ( in July!) Love Robin 8
Nancy, France
26-7-55 Dear Ada Many thanks for letter which arrived here. I had a lovely trip from Interlacken into France again. The hotel is very comfortable. We passed through Colmar, where Dr Albert Schweitzer was born. This place showed many sign of the last war with bullet holes etc in the walls. Tomorrow we go on to “Gay Paree”. Love to MUM and a K.U.A to H.B. “Wee Robin”
9
Paris
Dear Ada This is a scene near our hotel. I have only been here a few hours but already I can say, “I Love Paris”. The traffic alone is wonderful thing to see, but the layout of the centre of Paris is so lovely that it beggars description. Guess you’d better save up and pay this city a visit. You’d be poor but happy for the rest of your life. Regards to “HB”. Love from 10“Wee Robin”
Paris
Dear Mum I won’t send any more P.C.s so the next news will be me myself around 9.30 pm on Saturday night. I am sorry that we only have one night in Paris. It is a beautiful city, far more impressive than I thought it would be. However,. We have entertainments fixed up for tonight so it should be a good send off. Lots of love from Robin. x 11