Biography of Malcolm Archbald SMITH
[Ref. S.1]
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Tim was a colleague of Malcolm and, in 1960 during a lunch break in the staff canteen, he suggested a camping holiday in Cornwall during the week after Whitsun, and this seemed like a good idea. The plan was to take the Royal Blue coach to Penzance then find a nice location. In the following days, Malcolm went to the camping shop near his office in Hammersmith and bought a haversack, some outdoor clothes and a straw hat.
Saturday
Come the Saturday of the Whit weekend, Malcolm was driven by his father down to the coach stop in Camberley where he was to meet Tim and his girlfriend who would have boarded at Staines. Malcolm had only found out a few days before that Tim was bringing his girlfriend Virginia. It was very busy that day and there were something like 12 relief coaches to cope with the number of passengers, and the driver of each one that came in said they were full and there was another one coming along behind. Eventually there were no more coaches also Tim had not arrived.
Malcolm waited at the stop until Tim and Virginia arrived then they went into the booking office and got a refund on their tickets. As the Aldershot & District bus service 52 to Basingstoke was not due for 1˝ hours, they set off walking westwards along the A30 road. Approaching Blackbush airfield, a gypsy rumbled past on a horse-draw cart. Malcolm stupidly called out "watch out - your wheels are going round", then was chastised by Tim. The cart stopped and Malcolm sensed imminent reprisal but continued walking on with the others. As they reached the cart, the driver turned towards them and said "do you have the time on you?". Point made.
They got to a place where they were able to catch the bus to Basingstoke where they caught a train to Exeter. During the journey, the glass came off Malcolm's watch and the minute hand fell off. They arrived at Exeter station at about 5pm, then walked southwards out of the city, stopping for fish and chips on the way. Just beyond the Exeter by-pass they found a spot at the top of an old quarry to pitch their tents.
Sunday
In the morning they lay in the tent for a while looking out at the view. They were entertained by some crows on an overhead cable, one of the crows falling up-side-down on the wire. They discussed their plans and decided to head for St.Austell in Cornwall as Penzance seemd so far away.
The group packed up their tent and walked back into Exeter and took a look around the cathedral before proceeding to the railway station. Having arrived at St.Austell, they headed to the bus station where they caught a bus bound for Mevagissy. They loooked around whilst they waited for the bus that would take them to Gorran Haven. They got on the bus and sat upstairs at the back. Soon afterwards a lady and her daughter got on and sat up at the front. The girl was blode and very tanned and Tim's girlfriend said to Malcolm "that is your Cornish pasty for the week". At Gorran Haven, Malcolm and his friends got off the bus, as did the lady and her daughter.
The group walked down to the haven to look around. There was a nice little café nearby so they went in and had a meal. After that they decided to pitch their tent on the rocks at the edge of the harbour.
Monday
The group woke early then took breakfast in the café. They got hold of some ˝ gallon jars to hold water at their camp. They spent the day idling around the haven. They climbed up the nearby hill where they sat and looked out over the sea. They returned to the beach and sat there for a while before going to the café for lunch. It was hot and sunny all day and in the afternoon they sunbathed by their tent. That evening they moved their tent down onto the sand but made sure they were above the high tide mark.
Tuesday
Sharing a tent with Tim and Ginny was difficult so Malcolm rose early and pottered about the cliffs. Having packed the tent they had breakfast in the café. The proprieter was getting used to the group and was becoming generous with the portions. Afterwards they sat on the beach in the sun, meeting up with a person called Barry from Birmingham.
That evening, the blond girl from the bus was on the beach. Tim went over to 'break the ice' with her as Malcolm was too reticent. Ginny thought that the girl would make up a nice foursome for the holiday. Malcolm did speak to the girl who was called Gail later that evening and arranged to meet up again the following day.
The group put their tent up on the beach again that night.
Wednesday
The group met up with Gail and her mother on the beach that morning. Malcolm decided to show off and said he would dive off the end of the harbour wall. However, he lost his nerve when he got there as there was a long drop to the water and it did not look too deep. Eventually he did make the dive but then got scared by a jellyfish in the water. When he got back he found that no-one had been looking as he had taken so long. They all agreed to meet up that evening for a trip to the pub.
Malcolm and his friends met up with Gail and her parents at the cottage where they were staying. They all walked up the road to the Barley Mow pub which was well over a mile away. Malcolm drank three half pints of local scrumpy and got blotto, as did the others. They managed to find their way back, during which Tim tried to climb a signpost and fell off and Malcolm and Gail decided that they were friends. They were all too drunk to erect the tent so the boys were left to sleep on the beach in their sleeping bags whilst Ginny stayed with Gail and her parents. Malcolm was inevitably sick.
Thursday
The two girls came down to the beach at about 10:30 and they all sat in the warm sun. After lunch, Malcolm walked Gail up along the path on the eastern side of the haven but when they tried to sit on the grass they found that there many small thistles which made it unpleasant. They returned in time for tea which they took in the café as usual.
The group decided to move their tent to the camping field for a bit more comfort. It was located opposite the cottage where Gail and her parents were staying.
Friday
The day ended with a thunderstorm. Gail said that she was frightened so he walked her back home and stayed a while to comfort her, only leaving when her father enquired if Malcolm was still there.
Saturday
It had come to light that Gail had come on holiday with her parents to make a decision. She was about to marry but had serious doubts about going ahead. The holiday was to give her a place away from home to consider the matter. This was relayed from Ginny who had been speaking to Gail, then via Tim to Malcolm. Somehow or other, and probably on this subject, Malcolm and Tim got into disagreement with each other. Malcolm decided that he could not remain with Tim and Ginny so decided to leave. He told Gail who said she would come with him.
Sunday
Malcolm left with Gail and went to St.Austell where they caught a train to London. It was very busy and they were lucky to be able get seats. During the journey they did go into the end of the corridor for a bit of privacy. They then took the underground to Waterloo where Malcolm pretended to ring his parents to let them know he was coming home. Returning to Gail he said that they were not at home so she invited him back to her home where he was invited in by her parents who had also returned from Cornwall.
Monday
Late that morning, Malcolm and Gail took a walk along the river bank where she told him about the situation she was in and that she had decised not to marry. She had come out of the house as her fianceé was due to visit and her parents were going to give him the news without her being present. For that walk, Gail had put on the dress that she had bought for her wedding which Malcolm took as a token between them.
Having returned to her house later, there had been a phonecall from Malcolm's mother to say that she coming to collect him. This was a surprise as he had not told her where he was. She arrived and drove him home. It transpired that Tim had rung Malcolm's parents to say that he had been acting strangely and had gone off with Gail. Malcolm explained that there had been a rift with Tim and the matter was not persued any further.
Afterwards
Malcolm continued to visit Gail throughout that summer.
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