Relax with Sherrie time
Sherrie recalls the heyday of air travel, with four-course meals, comfy seats and glamourous passengers!
Hello readers,
I haven’t been on a plane since before the pandemic, it must be about three years now. One of my joys in life is flying; in fact I first flew in the Fifties. My mother loved travelling so she wanted me and my brother to experience the golden age of flying, as it was called.
It was very glamorous, everyone dressed up specially; my mother would have a new outfit every time and with matching luggage, too. I remember the excitement and my new coat, which was navy blue with a velvet collar and detachable fur cape and of course patent leather shoes. My brother and father were suited and booted; Dad had his Fedora hat and a black Crombie coat. There were no mobile phones of course, so people actually talked to each other. The seats were like armchairs, the stewardesses were exotic models, very tall and quite intimidating.
The take-off was just so wonderful. I counted as we started on the runway to lift off. Then above the clouds the sun came out and we were flying… It was so exhilarating, there was nothing to beat that feeling... except the food! We were given menus for four courses. Mum and Dad
‘Prawn cocktail, roast beef, jam roly poly… Mum kept that menu for years’
had a glass of Champagne and we had orange squash. The food was amazing – prawn cocktail, roast beef, jam roly poly. Mum kept that menu for years just to remind us what plane travel was like and how lucky we were to have had that experience.
We went again in 1965 and, by this time, air passengers had quadrupled and the glamour had gone, no one dressed up and it was quite a mundane affair. The food had been cut back and the luxury seating replaced with practical, smaller areas to fit in as many people as possible.
Now we all endure the long queues, endless security searches, and by the time you’ve fought your way onto the overcrowded plane with its plastic food and warm drinks, then you have to fight to get off again, followed by the queue to get out of the airport onto a bus to take you to your destination! Do you know what, I think I’ll staycation in future. We live in the most beautiful country and have everything here.
When I did 5 go Caravanning, we travelled to some beautiful places in the UK – it was glorious. We did nearly burn the caravan down, but hey ho, you can’t have everything!