In September alumna and friend of the school, Catherine Budgett-Meakin, kindly invited the Alumnae Office to the launch of her new book, Overland from London to Johannesburg in 1971, and we are so pleased to have gone. Victoria Hall at the Highgate Literary & Scientific Institution was abuzz with people from the community, friends and colleagues of Catherine and those with a keen interest in travel. 

The event opened with a short illustrated talk by Catherine and the launch of her new book followed by a thought-provoking introduction by Dr Elaine Unterhalter about life in South Africa in 1972 - it really offered attendees a glimpse into life at that time, the amazing moments shared on such a momentous journey and the political and geographical changes that have taken place on the African continent in (only) fifty years. It definitely gives one food for thought and inspiration to explore more of what our world has to offer: it is well worth the read! 

Purchase details can be found at the end of the article.

This is a published account of my 1971 adventure told through my diaries written at the time and posted in chapters to my parents in Highgate. Below is the preface and an extract from the introduction to the book.

I was at Channing from 1957-1964, and in due course was the chair of the Alumnae and a governor of the School from 1990-2013. I initiated the CBM environmental award in 2000 which is now part of the Geography programme.

Preface
In early 1971, aged 25, I was working in the Marketing Division of Unilever in London and living in a semi-basement flat in West Kensington (the rent was four guineas a week). 

On the back of The Times, I spotted an advertisement for Encounter Overland, an organisation running trips in ex-army lorries to South Africa. My cousin Ann and her husband Ian and daughter Caroline (born November 1969) lived in Johannesburg and my aunt and
uncle lived in Knysna in Cape Province.

Politically it was unacceptable for me to visit the family in South Africa because of apartheid and the political situation of which I disapproved strongly, along with my peers. Going overland seemed to be such an adventure and opportunity.

I had to break the news to my parents, which was difficult, but they gave me full support and my father set up emergency contacts throughout Africa. I kept a full diary throughout the journey on airmail paper and posted ‘chapters’ of my diary to my parents. On my return to the UK in September 1972 my mother handed me the typescript of all my letters, which, in due course, I scanned onto my computer. I kept a carbon copy of the letters in case any of the chapters should go astray. I was the only one who wrote such a detailed diary. I do not remember anyone else scribbling away as I did. Telling my parents what I was seeing helped me to sharpen my powers of observation.

It was the first big adventure of my life – one ‘bookend’. The other ‘bookend’ was in 2019 when, joining generous friends, I went on the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Beijing (via Mongolia), following in the ‘footsteps’ of my great-grandmother and great-aunt who had been on the inaugural trip of the railway in 1900. 

Now, in 2021, I have edited and illustrated the African journey text for a more general audience, as the adventure is 50 years ago, and the world and its politics have changed dramatically.

Below is an extract from the Introduction:

The world in 1971 was very different from the world of 2021. In many ways it is much more dangerous now and it would be impossible for 20 young westerners to travel across northern and central Africa. 1971 was a post-colonial world in Africa (some would argue that it still is). I was struck by the greater influence of France in the former French territories than that of the UK in the former British colonies: French architecture and town layout and especially the penetration of French as the standard language. I also became aware of the dominance of Christianity throughout: the missions in central Africa, in particular.
 

It would be inappropriate here to explore the reasons for the changes that have taken place, but, in brief, the gulf between the rich world and the poor world has changed in many ways. Having worked for an important ‘developing world’ (or majority world as I prefer to call it) development NGO (the Intermediate Technology Development Group, now Practical Action) for many years from the mid-1980s, I have seen many good changes that have happened.

The hardback book is available from Catherine for £15.00 (+ £3.00 UK post and packing) by email: catherine@budgett-meakin.co.uk.