Three plane flights later, I was in London, where I had been told that someone with a placard would collect me at Heathrow Airport. But where? My first problem. Eventually, some very considerate gentleman waiting for someone else directed me to read a sign over a passageway to find the pick-up point. What a joy to be driven into the city and to my hotel.
The next problem arose when I found I had to have a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to use my English credit card, including using it to access the legacy funds my English cousin had left me. Off I went to the nearest bank branch, where I asked for a new PIN to be sent to that branch.
I spent the next few days looking at London, such as visiting the Imperial War Museum, the bank of the River Thames in cold, drizzly weather, and a boat trip to Greenwich to visit the National Maritime Museum. It was well worth it as, despite extensive renovations taking place, the conceptual displays were fascinating, with enough Cook material to keep me happy. Looking at the Cutty Sark again (in better weather), I reached the ferry jetty to find there were problems due to the height of the water and the strength of the current. Some boats had difficulty getting under the bridges. Fortunately, I was able to take a tourist boat, which had a very interesting commentary all of the way back. I gave the skipper a note of a book I thought he ought to read, The Unlikely Voyage of Jack De Crow, about a teacher using a dinghy to sail/row all of the way from the source of the Thames down the river and across the English Channel to France, and eventually along the River Danube to the Black Sea. The story of the author getting through London is hilarious. Back on dry land, I looked inside the National Portrait Gallery.
When I went back to the bank branch to collect my PIN, I was told it had been sent to my old home address! I reordered the PIN to be sent to the Edinburgh bank branch, and told them of my new home address.
Two train rides and a taxi later, I was at the Middlesbrough hotel, very early on the Friday. I had a look around to check out the surroundings, but as it seemed to be plenty of open space but little to wander about, I decided it was QLD time. There did not seem to be any other early arrivals until a tall fellow came in. Looking about, he came over to ask if I was there for the Captain Cook meeting. He introduced himself as Jim Grange from Colorado, USA. Whereupon, we compared our travels to the meeting so far.
When the time for the scheduled “Meet & Greet” came about, we headed to the foyer to check it, only to find that I was not expected! Apparently, my notification email had gone astray, which is nothing unusual for me. Our Editor, Ian Boreham, made me quite welcome, and it was good for me to be able to put a face to a name and address that has appeared in Cook’s Log since 1980.
After the Welcoming Committee and much general chatter, we all moved to the Dining Room where there was a very good mixture of members, and more chatter. It was a convivial time as we had the room virtually to ourselves. Afterwards, we went upstairs to the Yarm Room, which proved to be an ideal venue to get together away from the noise of the rest of the hotel, especially the Bar and the sporting fraternity who were watching a strange game on a large TV.
Saturday started with a short drive to the Parish Centre at Marton. There was plenty of room for us to spread out, and stretch out, and then listen to a variety of exceptionally well-informed and enthusiastic speakers. My thanks to the members who organised everything. I appreciated the breaks for cups of tea throughout the day. Some of us had lunch at a nearby pub, which we enjoyed, though it did make me miss the tour of the Parish Church where James Cook was baptised.
I am constantly amazed and appreciate the depth and commitment of so many other people who gave the talks expounding on their knowledge. I appreciated the friendliness and camaraderie of like-minded Cook people. I would especially like to thank Mike Bloomfield who took me under his wing, and drove me about. Also, fellow Australians James and Heather Ross, who I had not heard from for many years. I remember going to James’s home ever so long ago for a meeting to present Mary Lambe with Life Membership for getting the Society going.
I was particularly interested to hear about three proposed events in 2028, coupled with the effort to get the Endeavour replica out of dock, and off to England to help with the celebrations there. Everyone needs to keep talking about it, and to put pressure on the governments to make it happen.
After the afternoon talks, an auction was held. It was generally a lively affair, with some lots causing great interest, and a bit of hilarity with the audience. The runner was kept busy taking lots to the successful bidders sitting at each end of the room.
The evening meal at the Sporting Lodge Inn was another enjoyable occasion, with everyone mixing well in such hospitable surroundings.
I decided to stay on for the Sunday, and join with anyone else doing so. Again, a big Thank You to Mike. We tagged along with Jim who had been invited to view another member’s Cook collection in Whitby. It was phenomenal, and the opportunity was well worth the lunch at the Abbey Wharf Restaurant overlooking Whitby. We also took part in the members-only tour of the Captain Cook Memorial Museum guided by Chris Needham.
A very big Thank You to those who organised the weekend, and to fellow members for making it such an enjoyable occasion. It was great to get back into the swing of things.
Another train ride took me to Edinburgh, where I saw on a wall just off the “Royal Mile” the words “Not all those who wander are lost”. How true that is, though not always so. A bus trip to the Highlands had me watching a hire boat with an all-girl crew navigate the locks at Fort Augustus on the Caledonian Canal (the last boat through for the season) instead of paying extra for a boat ride on Loch Ness in the hope of seeing “Nessie”, the Loch Ness monster. Everyone else on the bus did it.
When I went to the bank branch in Edinburgh, I found the PIN had not turned up. After the computer was checked, I was told the new PIN had been forwarded to my new home address!
I took another train ride to Dundee, where I wished to see Captain RF Scott’s Antarctic ship Discovery. More importantly to me, she was Britain’s contribution to Douglas Mawson’s British, Australian, New Zealand Antarctic Research Expeditions (BANZARE) of 1929-1931. The British Mawson became a South Australian at Adelaide University, and long ago I bought a collection of Frank Hurley’s original photos of the 1929-1930 first cruise of Discovery. I spent quite some time aboard this ship in Dundee trying to work out how they had fitted a reassembled aircraft on board. Despite the grey Scotch mist, it is very worthwhile.
Back in Edinburgh, another visit to the bank branch led to me insisting the fellow go and relook, whereupon he found a letter for me. Imagine my disgust when I opened it to find another credit card, but no PIN with it! Apparently, it would be sent separately. A fortnight after I arrived home in Australia, I received advice that my card was available to be collected in Edinburgh!
David John
Originally published in Cook's Log, page 43, volume 48, number 1 (2025).