Ron Sverdloff stands in the spot the where the bus was parked in Hastings 52 years ago. Photo / Supplied
Ron Sverdloff stands in the spot the where the bus was parked in Hastings 52 years ago. Photo / Supplied
In October in 1968 a double decker bus, all the way from England, made a stop in Hawke's Bay.
The stop was part of a three-year worldwide trip in a double decker bus completed by seven 20-year-olds who became known as the Essex Bus Boys.
The group of seven youngmen, inspired by a sense of adventure and being young, bought a double decker bus from a scrap dealer, made it into a liveable home, and started their journey in January 1967.
They left their hometown Leigh-on-sea in Essex and headed to France.
The bus travelled throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, South America and North America, taking ferries when crossing the sea.
The bus ran like a well-oiled machine as every man had a specific role.
Ken Wilkinson was the chef, Ron "Twiggy" Still was the entertainment manager, Tony "Skipper" Reina was the mechanic, Ron Sverdloff was the navigator, Albert Pidgeon was the treasurer, Rob Carter was the scribe and Derek Jones was the cleaner.
The double decker bus made headlines when it parked in Heretaunga St. Photo / Supplied
The bus first arrived in Christchurch in September 1968 after spending a few months in Australia.
From Christchurch, the bus travelled to Queenstown, Nelson, Wellington, Whanganui, Auckland, Rotorua and Hawke's Bay.
The bus arrived in Hawke's Bay Friday October 11, 1968.
An excerpt from the diary Rob Carter kept reads:
"Parked halfway between Napier and Hastings down a small side road just in view of the main road Number 2.
"Even at the early hour of 07.00 hours you can hear people outside the bus tapping on the windows. It won't be long before the press and radio boys get here. By 0800 the hum of voices has increased. Oh, for a quiet life, far from the madding crowd.
"Keeping the curtains drawn we creep around like fugitives afraid to show our faces. It seems impossible to have our breakfast in peace. The taps become more persistent.
"Peering through a crack in a curtain a small girl asks for a postcard. This was the beginning. One card goes to two then five. This was the cue for the radio and press boys to advance.
52 years ago seven men from England visited Hastings as part of a three-year worldwide trip in a bus. Photo / Supplied
"They bring their veg, bread and milk for exchange for postcards. The latest is 'white bait' a noted delicacy. Odd looking stuff. Three cartons."
The chef Ken Wilkinson also has whitebait as one of his Hawke's Bay memories.
"I think it was the first night that we spent in Hastings; we had parked some place out of the way.
"I was first up that day, and as I went about getting breakfast ready, I looked out of the front window and there on the hood was a pile of food. When I went to see what it was two doz eggs, bacon, two loaves of bread, butter, jam and two tubs of whitebait. Later that day I met the lady that had left all the food.
"Sad to say but you could not do this trip in today's world. The friendship that was given/ showed to us was overwhelming," he said.
The rest of the day was spent being visited by fashion models and New Zealand television personality Max Cryer.
The crew spent the night partying and playing ping pong at the house of local Herby Wong.
Twiggy met a local beautician who he spent the night partying with, and Derek met a woman named Maggie.
Much of the trip was spent partying and meeting women, which clearly paid off as five of the men met their wives during the trip.
The men enjoyed New Zealand and Albert describes the hospitality of the people as "outstanding".
"At the time we were kept busy with traveling, and promotions. It was not until I had time to reflect on the whole trip that I realised just how nice a country New Zealand is," he said.
Ron Sverdloff, who was the inspiration behind the trip, is currently visiting New Zealand and revisited Hawke's Bay during his trip.
"It was refreshing to see the lovely individual businesses thriving in Hastings recently - unlike in the UK where shops in our high streets are closing due to big supermarkets taking over and to online shopping - look after what you've got," he said.
Ron is looking to hear from any Hawke's Bay locals who have memories of the trip and can be contacted at Ronald.sverdloff@outlook.com.
