Thursday, 12th.February 1976

This was one of those days that was thoroughly enjoyable – and for me what being at university was all about. Learning, conversation and beer with friends – and two gigs, one lunchtime and one evening – and all for £2.91!

After a Photogrammetry exercise in the morning it was over to King’s* for a lunchtime gig in the dull but aptly named multi-purpose hall. Friends Chris, Nik, Tony, Dave and Julian put on a pretty good show – free of course! I suspect they had a collective name, but I cannot remember what it was, and failed to make a note in my diary! Covers mostly, but all good stuff: ‘How Long’, ‘Honky Tonk Woman’, ‘Black Magic Woman’ and Gordon Lightfoot’s ‘Walls’. Gordon was an underrated songwriter at the time. Sadly I have forgotten the members of the band – other than their names – apart from Chris, who was my flatmate at the time.

Microclimatology and Economic Geography

After the first gig of the day – lectures! More microclimatology in the Meteorology lecture, followed by Loschian Models in Economic Geography.

The latter, it seems, I found of particular interest, partly because it was such an ideal crossover between geography and economics. I shan’t go into detail – you would probably be bored rigid (and the thinking has probably moved on since the 1970’s). Geography is the ‘3-D’ science; the science of space and spatial relationships.

Central Place Theory and Loschian Models were core to Economic Geography at the time and involved the relationship between producers and buyers in spatial terms (amongst other things). For example, if you want to optimise the location for your factory or shop it helps to have an understanding of the spatial organisation of producers, markets and populations. I spent time looking into the interaction between towns and their zones of influence – the ‘pull’ of Newton Abbot compared to the ‘pull’ of Exeter as shopping centres for example. But enough of that!

The legendary Hole in the Wall

Soup of the Day for lunch (15p) then darting around between Aldwych, Stoke Newington and Waterloo. Why Waterloo? I was due to meet a friend at the Hole in the Wall – a reliable and regular beer stop then, and if I still lived in London, now it is still there and relatively unchanged.

The Hole in the Wall was just the start of an evening that involved a generous quantity of beer, which set me back £1.80 all told.

Two bands for 60p!

Forked out 60p to see Bandy Legs and Medicine Head. You will almost certainly know the latter, who were always great entertainment, especially for a duo! Oddly enough, they were about to release their 6th. studio album Two Man Band. As a matter of interest, their first two albums (or was it three?) were on John Peel’s Dandelion label.

Bandylegs (Bandy Legs?) were a heavy rock (metal?) band and you would be forgiven for not having heard of them. However, the following year (1977) they changed their name to Quartz – also fairly obscure but you may have come across them. I was a big fan of Wishbone Ash, and not only because of their connection with south Devon. My main memory of this evening was of Bandy Legs playing Wishbone’s Jailbait. Marvellous!

Kissing the Pavement

No self-respecting student in the 70’s could possibly end a splendid day such as this without some form of hopefully inventive drink-related embarrassment. With beer firmly in control of my brain I managed to make it to the 55 bus, but sadly I got off – well, I have no idea where I got off. Being a geographer I managed to find my way home, but not without walking ‘miles’ (according to my diary).

It would appear that upon my arrival at a known landmark – Clapton roundabout – I proceeded to traverse said roundabout by the most direct but shrubby route and, with an assortment of twigs and flowers about my person, found myself diving over some railings that appeared out of nowhere. I was horizontal in no time, but, determined to find where my bed was at, did not remain prone for long. Anyone watching me engaging in this bizarre form of locomotion must have been laughing like a drain!

Needless to say I headed straight for bed upon finally reaching home. And that sums me up for a lot of people who know me: I always make it home, no matter where I start off from or the circuitous nature of the route taken. It’s an instinct.

* I mention ‘King’s’ from time to time. This is a reference to KCL – King’s College London, which is the other side of the Aldwych from the LSE. The Joint School of Geography was KCL and LSE. Essentially, the ‘science’ side of geography was largely taught at KCL (geomorphology, climatology, etc.) and the ‘human’ side of geography was largely taught at LSE (urban geography, economic geography, etc.)