Extracts from School Magazines: 60 Years Ago
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L’homme libre: c’est un home qui ne porte pas de cravat.
La jeane fille libre: c’est une jeune fille qui ne porte pas de beret.
Penny Sweeting (Lower VI ,York)
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Motorways
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The first UK motorway opened in 1958 at Preston, Lancashire. It was 8 miles long and later became part of the M6. The first section of the M1 opened in 1959 and was completed in 1977, so the motorways were very new when Susan Hempstead of the Middle V and Lancaster House wrote this piece for the 1964-65 Magazine. How life has changed!
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Striped, white ribbons threaded through lace and patchwork; gleaming concrete ways joining town to dusty town: these are the motorways. Some say they are ugly, dangerous: others welcome them as the solution to modern transport problems.
As they scurry over gigantic fly-overs and under frail-looking foot-bridges, tinny little cars are scornfully passed by coaches, lorries and powerful limousines. These latter vehicles appreciate the smooth, almost straight roads, and slow down regretfully when approaching the roundabouts which indicate the ends of the motorways. The little, tinny cars, however, must feel frustrated as they sidle along by the kerb like tortoises, while the “hares” flash past them.
As the number of vehicles in the country increases, so the roads have to be maintained or rebuilt. Through countryside, over rivers, round towns, earth-moving engineers carve highways from the land. Long expanses of white stretch through all types of scenery; but, however the scenery may change, the road is the same for mile upon mile, only relieved by occasional sweeps to the left or right, as a minor road leads from the motorway to a by-passed town.
Although the material conditions of the motorways are monotonous, the time of day can alter the roads considerably. In the haze of early morning, when there are few vehicles except coaches and lorries, a feeling of quietness is often sensed, enhanced by the smooth, straight road and the fine, clean lines ofoverhead bridges. It is in the middle of the day that the journey becomes monotonous, when a steady stream of traffic forces one to keep continuously alert. At night there are, again, fewer cars, and an avenue of orange lights lead on towards one’s destination. This is the time when one can really appreciate the fast trouble-free journey.
Perhaps there is a feeling of regret among some people as these motorways increase and lengthen. They may think that the many small back-roads will become unused; but those roads will be there for a very long time; they will be usable, and will serve as a peaceful contrast to the great, white, bustling motorways.