Memory Lane

It’s still – sort of – Christmas in Staines…

The Christmas tree is still up in this classic scene from Staines, all the way back in January 1973.

Staines, Surrey January 1973

The Christmas decorations are still up outside Staines Town Hall on Clarence Street, even though we’re (just) into the new year of 1973. A few months later, the building would become Grade II listed. It’s obviously quite a mild winter’s day judging by the light clothing but, unless there’s an unexpected heatwave on, we rather feel that the owner of the ice cream van left of the tree is being a tad optimistic. That said, the sign in the back of what is probably the obligatory Bedford CA or CF also advertises ‘hot dogs’, so we assume he was hedging his bets. Parked behind the food van is a Hillman Avenger in Aztec Gold, a metallic hue that so many examples seemed to be finished in.

Backbone of Britain

Then there’s that mainstay of all British high streets, a Ford Transit MKI, plus a four-door Cortina MKII trying to out-bling the Avenger with its Venetian Gold paint. Passing the parked vehicles is an AC or

Thundersley Model 70 Invacar that, during the Seventies, seemed just as common a sight as the Transit. So distinctive was the ice-blue shade of these rear-engined, glassfibre three-wheelers that it became nicknamed ‘Ministry Blue’, after the Ministry of Health.

Coming the other way down Clarence Road is a Ford Escort MKI, which also seems to be sporting its very own variant of Ministry Blue, although we’re certain that Ford wouldn’t have dubbed it that. We reckon that’s an Austin Maxi just beyond it; we would recognise that roofline curve anywhere.