Sunday 21 May 1967 – Lisbon or Bust!
Today was the Big Decision day! To go or not to go? I decided to go and “no turning back now”.
I was up early, around 7 am and placed all necessary documents in the car’s glove compartment for safe keeping. Helen dressed Pauline and ensured that she had everything required for her stay with her parents. I locked up the house and departed Glenrothes around 10.15 am and dropped Helen and Pauline off at the Dunfermline Bus Station to guarantee they caught the 11.30 bus for Tullibody.
We said our goodbyes and the next time I would see or talk to them would be Monday 29 May. This was 1967 after all. There were no mobile telephones/email/social media and the only way possible to contact an “average” family member from abroad would be via an emergency telegraph.
I left Dunfermline en route to the Sullivans’ house in Methil and arrived there with trepidation at around 12.30 pm to collect Danny and Martin Sullivan. Their mother (Aggie) had kindly made some sandwiches and sent them off with a box containing biscuits, milk, tap water, a loaf of bread, Mars bars, plus tins of soup, beans, sardines, John West salmon and a jar of jam which I loaded into the boot.
Martin then tied a “Lisbon or Bust” poster on the front of the car. We then waved goodbye to a large group of neighbours who had gathered, including our cousins, the Lawlors, and Joe Sullivan.
With apprehension, I drove to Methilhaven Road, Buckhaven for the agreed time of 1 pm to pick up Martin’s two friends, and we made brief introductions for the first time. John Alan was of average build, but Brian Whyte was very tall, and they were both 19 years old, the same age as their friend Martin.
John’s mother gave us a box of Smith’s Salted Crisps and some lemonade. His mother had also made 2 large tricolour flags from bed sheets which she had dyed green, white and gold. We placed them on the rear parcel shelf and waved goodbye. Brian also brought with him a small tent and a large filled water container. We all smoked, except Danny.
Just outside Buckhaven we stopped at the Rosie Garage in East Wemyss to fill the car up with petrol. This was the first stop of ten that was required for this trip. I also filled the spare I gallon Jerry can. Ultimately the ten necessary tank fill ups during the trip meant 120 gallons of petrol. Whilst there, the pump attendant remarked about the “Lisbon or Bust” poster on the front of the car. He was astounded that we were attempting to drive to Lisbon in 4 days. He wished us “Good Luck” and shouted as we departed “better to watch the game on telly, you’ll have more chance of seeing it!”
Finally we were on our way! 420 miles ahead of us to reach (initially) central London. I departed Fife via the coast road, crossed the Forth Road Bridge (which in 1967 had only been open a couple of years) and paid the 2 shillings and sixpence toll. After crossing the bridge, I had to make an impromptu stop to remove the “Lisbon or Bust” poster from the front of the car, as the engine was showing as overheating. Fortunately it was just the lack of air into the radiator that was causing the problem….otherwise, the trip was off!
I drove via Edinburgh to Musselburgh to join the A68 south; the A68 took us via Jedburgh, Carter Bar (Scotland/England) border. Once in England we headed towards Darlington, and then joined the A1 south to Doncaster. I had to make a second fuel stop north of Doncaster on the A1. I stopped at a small independent garage, then joined the new AI(M) motorway to London. This motorway ceased at Edgeware North, London – a distance of 152 miles. This was the first time I’d ever driven on any motorway – what a fantastic experience! En route, I stopped at Toddington Services where we finished off Aggie’s sandwiches, biscuits and milk.
On arrival in Central London just after 11 pm, I parked the car in a sort of empty bomb site with 3 large walls on each side. We were in the Fitzrovia area, 49 Maple Street, Fitrovia which was very close to the new GPI tower (now known as the BT tower) and not far from the Prudential Head Office and Leicester Square for the AA offices. The sleeping arrangements for that night were the car – 3 in the back, 2 in the front (Danny and I).
Just before midnight a car drove in and parked near to us on our passenger side with a male driver and a female passenger. They must have thought our car was empty because all our windows were steamed up with 5 adults inside. With their engine still running the male passenger put the front seats down (new type of car!) and started kissing the female. Next it was full blown sex, during which the car stalled but they kept at it with the car rocking from side to side.
During this period and although our windows were steamed up other than a few viewing holes on our passenger side windows, we did not make a noise due to the free entertainment. When that finished, they raised up their seats, fixed their clothing (knickers and trousers) and the male driver tried to re-start the stalled car, but to no avail – he had either flooded the carburettor or had a flat battery.
With us laughing inside our car at their predicament and for the enjoyment they had given us, we all decided to help them get their car re-started with a push start.
The couple nearly “s**t” themselves when 5 smelly Jocks appeared from the car and went to assist them, offering help which the driver (with his stained trousers) gratefully accepted. The female never looked at us. The push start was successful and off they went, at speed into the night.
At around 12.30 am, Martin’s two friends John and Brian decided to check out the GPO Tower (or left to find food) and returned just after 1 am. Minutes after they returned to the car, 3 other cars entered the site and surrounded our car, 2 at the sides and one at the rear. They were uniformed and plain clothed Police officers. They had noticed John and Brian earlier and had followed them to where my car was parked.
They removed us from the car and separated us. We were all body searched. They questioned us individually about what we were doing in the area, where we came from and wanted to establish what we were doing.
They knew nothing about Celtic’s Lisbon game. They were “Cockney Coppers” and this was beyond their realm of thought. Fortunately one of the plain clothes Police officers was originally from Kirkcaldy, Fife. He asked us various questions such as what we knew about Methil and Kirkcaldy – the High Street, Raith Ballroom, Raith Rovers (Stark’s Park) and East Fife (Bayview). Suddenly John had a “eureka” moment. He showed the officer the match tickets for Lisbon. The officer then had a discussion with the other officers, explaining that we were genuine, but crazy. They then took our names and vehicle registration details and allowed us to park there overnight, but to leave before 8 am the next morning. The time was nearly 2.00 am, and it had been an eventful and stressful day. Sleep came easily…
Jerry Woods
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