Leon Franklin: Author
Noel F Bennett: Film Maker
Bennett Family Tree
Friends of St. Clare's
The 60's
The 60's
When finished this page will have photographs, links and information about the 1960's which were mentioned in my stories. For example cars used by my characters. There will also be links to listen to 60's pop tunes and learn about other events of the period.
Stranger on the Shore
Cars
Type of car used by Mary Robinson in which she had the accident
This Jaguar Mark X still holds the title as being the broadest British production saloon being 1.93 metres across its rear. It offered independent suspension and power-steering and was half the price of its rivals. Originally it was fitted with a triple-carburettor 3.8-litre XK motor used in the E-Type, but this changed to a 4.2-litre unit in 1964 that resulted in more torque but with identical power which was enough to push it to 193 km/h even in automatic.
This Jaguar Mark X still holds the title as being the broadest British production saloon being 1.93 metres across its rear. It offered independent suspension and power-steering and was half the price of its rivals. Originally it was fitted with a triple-carburettor 3.8-litre XK motor used in the E-Type, but this changed to a 4.2-litre unit in 1964 that resulted in more torque but with identical power which was enough to push it to 193 km/h even in automatic.
The type of car Neil owned when involved in the accident.
Seen as the outstanding economy car of its time, the Morris Minor was a best seller as well as being a long standing car in terms of production. Built from 1948 to 1971, it boasted rack-and-pinion steering and torsion-bar independent rear suspension. Its superb handling and smooth styling resulted in this car being viewed by Brits as ultra modern when compared to pre-war vehicles that existed at the time.
Seen as the outstanding economy car of its time, the Morris Minor was a best seller as well as being a long standing car in terms of production. Built from 1948 to 1971, it boasted rack-and-pinion steering and torsion-bar independent rear suspension. Its superb handling and smooth styling resulted in this car being viewed by Brits as ultra modern when compared to pre-war vehicles that existed at the time.
Type of car Neil purchased to replace his Morris Minor which was wrecked.
Ford worked very hard to ensure that the Cortina would be available for all to see on launch day. So, with the car having been in production for months in the run-up to its launch on the eve of the 1962 London Motor Show at Earls Court, every dealer in the land was to have at least a couple of cars in their showrooms. It was a successful strategy, and when the wraps did finally come off Ford’s new mid-liner, it caused a sensationThe new moniker was designed to evoke thoughts of glamorous European locations (having been named after the 1960 Winter Olympics resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo).
Ford worked very hard to ensure that the Cortina would be available for all to see on launch day. So, with the car having been in production for months in the run-up to its launch on the eve of the 1962 London Motor Show at Earls Court, every dealer in the land was to have at least a couple of cars in their showrooms. It was a successful strategy, and when the wraps did finally come off Ford’s new mid-liner, it caused a sensationThe new moniker was designed to evoke thoughts of glamorous European locations (having been named after the 1960 Winter Olympics resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo).
Music
Listen to the music:
Click on the link and it should take you directly to a web page where you can listen to that particular tune or song.
These links were correct when first used. Alternatively you could try Googling the name of the piece of music.
Acker Bilks, Stranger on the Shore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jzx664u5DA
The Beatles Second Album (Cannot get this, sorry. Go to Utube and search. I got it then)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz5jXwOXgKQ&list=PLcHZqts5PdNNsj0rfh3fGRS4p60MsaAje
Calling All Workers (Theme to 'Music While You Work')
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMEpjDFHN50
This is Calling All Workers composed by Eric Coates and performed by Eric Coates and his Symphony Orchestra, this tune is the well known theme to the long running BBC radio programme ‘Music while you work.’
Music While You Work was a daytime music programme broadcast twice daily in the United Kingdom on the BBC General Forces Programme. It began broadcasting in June 1940 during World War II, with the intention of helping the war effort. It was perceived that the productivity of manual labour could be raised by offering a non-stop medley of popular music played at an even tempo, to accompany the working day in factories. For a certain period, a recorded version was rebroadcast in the late evening, to entertain night-shift workers. After the war, the broadcasts continued on the newly-formed BBC Light Programme.
Music While You Work was discontinued in 1967 when most Light Programme offerings were transitioned to BBC Radio 2. However, it was revived in the 1980s; initially for one week to mark the BBC's 60th anniversary in October
1982 and then as a regular part of the Radio 2 schedules from January 1983 to January 1984
Click on the link and it should take you directly to a web page where you can listen to that particular tune or song.
These links were correct when first used. Alternatively you could try Googling the name of the piece of music.
Acker Bilks, Stranger on the Shore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jzx664u5DA
The Beatles Second Album (Cannot get this, sorry. Go to Utube and search. I got it then)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz5jXwOXgKQ&list=PLcHZqts5PdNNsj0rfh3fGRS4p60MsaAje
Calling All Workers (Theme to 'Music While You Work')
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMEpjDFHN50
This is Calling All Workers composed by Eric Coates and performed by Eric Coates and his Symphony Orchestra, this tune is the well known theme to the long running BBC radio programme ‘Music while you work.’
Music While You Work was a daytime music programme broadcast twice daily in the United Kingdom on the BBC General Forces Programme. It began broadcasting in June 1940 during World War II, with the intention of helping the war effort. It was perceived that the productivity of manual labour could be raised by offering a non-stop medley of popular music played at an even tempo, to accompany the working day in factories. For a certain period, a recorded version was rebroadcast in the late evening, to entertain night-shift workers. After the war, the broadcasts continued on the newly-formed BBC Light Programme.
Music While You Work was discontinued in 1967 when most Light Programme offerings were transitioned to BBC Radio 2. However, it was revived in the 1980s; initially for one week to mark the BBC's 60th anniversary in October
1982 and then as a regular part of the Radio 2 schedules from January 1983 to January 1984
Places of interest mentioned in the story
Allertonshire County Modern School,
Brompton Road, Northallerton, Yorkshire. This is where Neil and Fiona first met and became childhood sweethearts.
Photograph kindly sent by Susan Stanwix.
For further information on this or Northallerton in general you may wish to visit http://www.francisfrith.com/
Brompton Road, Northallerton, Yorkshire. This is where Neil and Fiona first met and became childhood sweethearts.
Photograph kindly sent by Susan Stanwix.
For further information on this or Northallerton in general you may wish to visit http://www.francisfrith.com/
Smirthwaites Garage
In our story, Neil secured an apprenticeship at this garage. I am not sure that the information beneath the photograph is still up to date.
This photograph was kindly sent by Susan Stanwix, who also provided the following information:
Smirthwaites was founded 8th July 1947 by Tom Smirthwaite. It was finally dissolved completely in March 2011, but the garage stopped trading in approx. 1990. The Smirthwaites came from Bedale and ran a farm there called Topcliffe
Parks, later changed to Parks Farm.
For further information on this or Northallerton in general you may wish to visit http://www.francisfrith.com/
In our story, Neil secured an apprenticeship at this garage. I am not sure that the information beneath the photograph is still up to date.
This photograph was kindly sent by Susan Stanwix, who also provided the following information:
Smirthwaites was founded 8th July 1947 by Tom Smirthwaite. It was finally dissolved completely in March 2011, but the garage stopped trading in approx. 1990. The Smirthwaites came from Bedale and ran a farm there called Topcliffe
Parks, later changed to Parks Farm.
For further information on this or Northallerton in general you may wish to visit http://www.francisfrith.com/
York Minster
Neil and Helen visited York and climbed the tower. It was one of those moments when Helen got very close, physically, to Neil almost trapping him into a romantic kiss. Instead a mystery coughing fit came upon him.