The Way We Were
London’s Christmas lights never fail to impress, but just take a look at what was driving by beneath this particularly superb display 57 years ago…
Winter 1961, Regent Street, London
‘One pint too many and wondering if he ever dare speak to Miss Caruthers again’ THE PERILS OF THE OFFICE PARTY
Even the most patriotic Liverpudlians, Geordies, Mancunians, Glaswegians or, er, people from Leeds ( Loiners, Nick! - Ed) must surely have to admit that there is one attraction where London shines more brightly than any other British city – Christmas lights. And don’t you dare try to bring the Blackpool illuminations into this!
Shoppers and revellers have been entranced by the joys of thousands of bulbs in the West End ever since 1954 when Regent Street traders decided to add illumination to brighten the place up a bit. Presumably they were also hoping that a dash of colour would put punters in a party mood, and ready them for some frivolous spending.
Since then the lights have spread to other streets, become a lot more sophisticated and even been officially switched on by Kylie Minogue.
However, it was ‘merely’ the Mayor of London who did the honours for the illuminations featured in our photo which, according to the caption, was taken in 1961, with Regent Street providing the backdrop.
Shoppers look still to be out in force, snapping up toys from properly-named British manufacturers such as Triang, Palitoy and Waddington, while stocking up on advocaat, Churchman’s cigarettes, decorative paper chains and Clarnico Real Fruit Jellies. And maybe a Cliff Richard LP or the soundtrack to South Pacific. All together, now: If you don’t have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true?
So which vehicles were carrying shoppers and people doing useful things in this picture?
Our left-hand-side parade begins with a glimpse of Wolseley 1500; good old BMC family fayre with some nice wood and leather, and then in front of it an import from the land of stollen and Christmas markets – a Volkswagen Type 2 van. The Beetle was Type 1.
Introduced in 1950, the Type 2 had been imported into Britain since 1954, priced at £668. Just 786 were sold here that year, but sales of these extremely well-built, reliable vehicles soon soared. As well as vans there were pick-ups, microbuses and, of course, campers, none of which went too fast as the job of providing the power fell to an 1192cc air-cooled engine until 1962, which did not make for a fast fully-loaded vehicle. Incidentally, the millionth example would be produced later that year.
We think that’s a Mini van in front of the VW, a vehicle introduced in 1961 and a success from the start. The car ahead of that is definitely a Mini saloon, which would have been in its element nipping through traffic-clogged streets and providing economical transport.
Note wondrous details such as the period ‘keep left’ and ‘no right turn’ signs, also traffic lights with black and white poles, one of which is providing a useful resting post for a gentleman who is either taking a well-earned rest, addicted to traffic fumes or has had one pint of Courage Best too many at the office Christmas party and is wondering if he ever dare speak to Miss Caruthers from accounts again.
Coming the other way we have a Humber Hawk or Super Snipe, which has just made a right turn, a Ford Consul MkII, an Austin FX3 taxi, predecessor to the even more legendary FX4, an Austin Westminster ‘Farina’ in rare A99 guise and a trusty Morris Oxford Series VI Traveller with lots of room for pressies.
Finally there’s a sleek Ford Zephyr MkII with two-tone paint and whitewall tyres, the driver obviously having been distracted by something, or somebody, on his left.
The London Transport RT-type bus, predecessor to the Routemaster, would provide a great way of seeing the lights from the upper deck. Route 60 took in Regent Street, Oxford Street, Marble Arch and Cricklewood Bus Garage.
Talking of lights, notice something interesting about these vehicles? Drivers were still allowed to use just their sidelights in built-up areas.