Page 64 - NHS Beyond the Classroom

Russell Gibb to Norway 1975

7th Former Russell Gibb spent six
weeks overseas attending the World
Scout Jamboree in Norway and
touring several European nations.
The following are extractions from
his travel diary . . . . . August 15
Had a smooth boat ride to
July 18, Sydney then Singapore Germany.
We were taken on a bus August 17, Hamburg
trip of Sidney, which was Went to the East/West
impressive. At Singapore we German border. Could see
stepped out of the plane the electrified fence.
into 28 degrees of heat. We August 19, Frankfurt
only stayed half an hour, but Travelled to Frankfurt in
it was enough to make you the morning. After lunch
want to get out of there! travelled to Munich.
July 19, Beirut, Frankfurt, August 21, Munich
Amsterdam & England Went to the Dachau
Beirut: Wasn’t much of a Prisoner of War Camp.
place. On the way out we It was a horrible place. Saw
were searched for weapons and the like. all the cruel arrangements they had.
Frankfurt: Didn’t get off the plane and the new Went to the Munich Olympic Stadium and
flight crew were late. We were browned off! had a swim in the pool.
Amsterdam: Nice people there. England: Went August 22
to a billet’s place and slept a bit, on and off. Went to the Adidas shoe factory. Looked
July 22. around Nuremburg in the afternoon.
Had to go see the Lord Mayor of August 24, Garmisch
Westminster. He looked funny in his coat- Went to an ice-skating rink. When I first
tails and jewels. went into the arena I fell and rolled. I got a
July 23 few more bruises during the time there. I
Went to the pub and woke up some of the managed to skate slowly, but not very well.
locals with our singing. August 26, Zurich
July 27, Gilwell Park Travelled to the border to Switzerland in an
We did some of our Maori songs for visitors hour. Continued to Zurich. Went into Lucern
to the hangi, and I made a few muck-ups. and looked around.
July 29, London August 28, Dijon
Went to NZ House for lunch with Hugh Crossed the border into France and travelled
Watt. Left for Gatwick Airport. into Dijon.
July 30, Jamboree August 29, Paris
Went to the opening ceremony of our sub- Travelled to Paris early in the morning. A
camp and I carried the sub-camp flag to its group of us travelled to the Follies Bergeres
place with one other from each continent. and saw the show. Had to rush down a meal
August 4 to get on the last train. Got home at 2:00am
Hiked to the top of a mountain and then after we ended up at the wrong place.
down the other side to the checkpoint. Slept August 30
under the stars. Went to the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel
August 7 Tower. Good view of the smog. Home at
Broke camp in the morning. Had to walk to 2:00am again.
the train. August 31, Mons
August 8, Helsingborg Travelled from Paris to Meaux for lunch.
Host’s house is very nice with three floors Mons was a bit of a dead place.
and a shrub garden. A few of the boys came September 1, Luijksaestal
around to our place and we had a bit of a Travelled from Belgium to Holland. We got
party. lost once and the border was a one hick
August 12, Copenhagen place.
Went to Copenhagen for the day. September 2, Waanessar
August 14, Helsingborg Went to an old bread fractory.
Went to a farm. It had 150 cows. Very September 4, Amsterdam
messy. The cows never eat any grass. Mucked around all day until we left for the
trip home. Flying from Amsterdam to Vienna
to Bahrein to Singapore to Auckland.