For 13 years I kept a daily journal. Looking back at some of the entries now, it seems that most of my teenage life was boringly routine (school; band practice; Top of the Pops on TV; walk to friend’s house; home; bed) and uneventful. However there were exceptions. A detailed entry of my first serious concert – Simon and Garfunkel at the Royal Albert Hall on 25th April 1970 – provides an accurate record of a memorable trip to London which is imprinted on my memory for ever
A bit of context – Only a month before sitting ‘A’ Levels my friend Ken and I decided to take a break from revision and hitchhike from Manchester to London to see the best folk duo in the world. We had very little spare cash so didn’t book any accommodation thinking we could get a cheap bed in a Youth Hostel for one night. Also hitchhiking was common and relatively safe in those days. Even so I always liked to plan ahead so decided to leave a day early just in case the lifts didn’t come. “Started hitching at 07.43 and got our first lift in 7 minutes – A white Triumph 2000 who took us to the M6 motorway.... then we got a lift in a massive articulated lorry with a pressurised cab to Coventry Ring Road.... a bloke in a Ford Truck took us 100m all the way to London... arrived 15.25”
No room at the Inn (well, Youth Hostel)! – “Holland Park YH fully booked. Blast! Earls Court YH shut and Highgate full so decided to doss it. To kill time, we went to see late night film at the Classic Cinema - “Alice’s Restaurant”. Film started at 24.00 and finished at 02.15. We walked back to Euston Station dog eyed and failed to find any means of rest. We waited for the ‘Superloo’ to open – a high class toilet incorporating showers, electric razors etc. Ken and I had showers at 07.00 (1/- entrance plus 4/- each).”
A long day filling time to the start of the concert. Tried sleeping at the Science Museum but moved more than once on by a jobsworth official. Ate a decent meal at a Wimpy then set out for the Albert Hall just before 7pm. Very tired and we were approached by three touts on the approach to the venue offering us £50 each* for our seats (ticket price 30 Shillings - £1.50 in real money) yet we had been through so much to get there, we never broke step as we marched into the venue and took our seats (Arena E, Row 19, Seats 7 and 8) so near the front you could taste the stage! * Equivalent to a stonking £540 in today’s money!!
“Tension mounted as time approached 19.45 (a quarter of an hour late). Audience became restless and suddenly Paul and Art stepped onto the stage.”
To be Continued......