March 23, 1971

Day #3 dawned bright and beautiful so after a typical English breakfast of eggs, very lean bacon, toast, marmalade and coffee, the three of us set out under blue skies for Waterloo Station

Waterloo station is a busy busy place – during the morning rush hour no fewer than 268 Trains come into this station.  It is enclosed but so large you feel  you are in an out door city square complete with vendors on the street, small shops and even pigeons!

Here we purchased tickets and boarded the train for a trip to Hampton Court – As we rolled through the countryside & headed west by southwest we passed through Earlsfield, Wimbleton [Wimbledon], Raynes Park, New Malden, Surbiton,  and Thames Ditton – In a little over an hour we stepped off the train within walking distance of Hampton Court Palace – which has been open to the public since 1838 – We saw just 45 of the over 1300 rooms in the Palace

From here we boarded a bus and traveled through the English countryside.  We passed the Royal Hallowell [Halloway] College Of London With its beautiful & elaborate buildings and grounds and found ourselves at Windsor Castle – Here we were particularly impressed by the St. George Chapel built in 1475 – This is where the Order of the Garter is conferred and is the burial place of England monarchs –

Malissa & I went in to see Queen Mary’s Doll house & the collection of dolls belonging to Queen Elizabeth

We walked around the grounds & saw the spring signs that tell of a beautiful summer garden –

The Castle was built by William the Conquereor & was completed before 1087 –

Walking into the town we had tea cakes, scones, pastry and tea at the Windlestra – a lovely little tea room –

A short walk to the station & we were on our way back the 21  miles to London.

On this walk we saw young  boys from Eaton in their Edwardian garb – Unique!

The train took us through Feltham, Wickenham [Twickenham], Vauxall [Vauxhall]

Meeting our friends at the Hotel we again dined at the Swiss Air Center & made a mad dash to the Cambridge Theatre to see “Captain Brassbound’s Conversion” – a play by G. B. Shaw & the lead was played by Ingrid Bergman – It was simply wonderful & she is such a beauty –

Back to the Hotel where we had something to drink while we planned the next day – By this time, Earl decided his birthday was March 23rd and not the 22nd so we had another celebration!  But – when the bill came there was great financial goings on as all three men found themselves a little short in their pounds & pence departments

After finally settling all accounts we agreed to meet for a 7:30 breakfast 

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Volume labeled “The Pennsylvania Lawyer’s Diary 1971”, used as travel journal by Elizabeth W. Ruffner, for a trip taken in March-April 1971; held by Malissa  Ruffner, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], Baltimore, MD; 2011.

For background information on this series of posts, see Spring Break, 1971.