Parents didn’t realise hippy in paper was me!

MEMORIES came flooding back when I read Mahesh Patel’s letter. (“Summer of ‘76 was one of the best times of my life”, June 25).

Although I’m a few years older than Mahesh, one of my best times was from the late 60s to the mid-70s which encompassed the “flower power” and hippy culture era.

I recall meeting like-minded friends in Town Hall Square on Saturday afternoons to participate in “happenings” – and here’s an example.

Having learned that hippies in San Francisco were giving away flowers to passers-by in a spirit of peace and love, we decided to do likewise.

We bought seasonal daffodils from the market across the road – three bunches for a shilling (5p) and handed them out.

Public reactions were varied and before long we noticed that each of the four entrances to the square was blocked by the police.

We were accused of picking the flowers from the Town Hall’s garden.

The accusation was short-lived when our honesty was confirmed by the market trader who had sold us the daffodils.

Another vivid memory was attending a pop concert on Vicky Park.

My parents would never let me out in my hippy gear so it was packed in a plastic bag, together with face paints.

St Margaret’s bus station loos were my changing rooms where the transformation from “straight” to “hippy” took place.

Imagine my horror when the Leicester Mercury turned up at the concert and a photographer pointed his camera at me.

The photograph was published but I was so successfully disguised that my parents didn’t recognise me!

Mahesh mentioned the music of his era and of course the hippy anthem was the Beatles’ All you Need is Love.

We didn’t carry weapons or fight; there was no violence and we really believed in the peace and love we preached – a far cry from today.

Mahesh hoped I wasn’t offended at his amusement at the suggestion that I would complain about a hippo replacing a brick in a cistern to save water.

On the contrary, the comments assure me that at least some people read my letters.

Thanks, Mahesh, for the opportunity to reminisce.

Elizabeth Allison, Aylestone