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Bus to Australia - Den Manning (23rd Nov 2007 - 17:24:24) Could anybody help with the contact details (email etc.) of the guys that drove a double-decker bus from Liphook to Oz in 1969? I'd like to catch up with them and hear the rest of the story. Cheers, .... Den Manning, ( ex passenger, Hairy Pillock 2nd & part-time Philanderer).

Re: Bus to Australia - ellen (23rd Nov 2007 - 17:45:29) Ooh me too, sounds like a great story to include in our magazine??? plse contact info@ctconnector.co.uk if u have contact Tks

Re: Bus to Australia - Paul Robinson (24th Nov 2007 - 07:24:39) Suggest you contact Adrian Bird at his office in the London Road. He was one of the original members of the group that drove the bus to Australia. I recall seeing a film of the trip that was premiered at the then Haslemere Cinema, time for a re-release on DVD for charity? Paul Robinson

Re: Bus to Australia - Richard King (26th Nov 2007 - 22:41:50) Sadly I've just returned home today having attended the funeral of John Wilson, one of the 9 of the round the world bus crew. I was in company with a great many of John's old friends who were around in Liphook in the 1960's including Adrian Bird and Clive Hughes, both participants in the world tour. Tim Palmer died in 1997, which now leaves just 7 of us still alive! The others are Alan Hughes (Clive's brother, now living in Yorkshire), Tony Hough, currently on holiday in Egypt with his wife Beverly, where their son Toby is studying Arabic at Cairo University, Bob Hall, now living in France with wife Libby (a Liphook girl) after many years in Australia, Dick Hayes was last heard of in Froyle, Hampshire, and myself, Richard King, now a resident of Kent (with my wife Gale) for the past 23 years. The film of our trip, "Pillock Conquers the World", was premiered at the Rex Cinema, Haslemere in October 1982, 25 years ago, and, yes, it's about time to start work on the special 40th anniversary edition DVD - and also do another screening in Liphook before any more of us pop our clogs! After Australia the bus toured the USA where we successfully promoted travel to Britain for the British Tourist Authority and BOAC and other British travel interests. We finally returned home to the "Deers Hut" in July 1972, having travelled over 54,000 miles on our 3 year world tour. The bus still exists, and has been making regular trips to Europe since 2001, driven mainly by Simon Coyte and me and occasionally by my cousin, Paul Johnson. "The Philanderers" have held 3 reunion concerts at the "Deers Hut", the last one in 1999, the 30th anniversary of our departure. It's all a long time ago now, but if you want to know any more, then ask Adrian Bird, Peter Harris or Paul Johnson if you live in Liphook. I could go on but I've had a hard day and it's time for bed!! Richard King

Re: Bus to Australia - ellen (27th Nov 2007 - 14:04:21) Thank you for that info. So sorry about your fellow traveller. Please could you contact info@ctconnector.co.uk should you have the telephone numbers or email address of the gentlemen livng in Liphook? our Liphook based magazine would love to write a feature on the trip etc. Many thanks

Re: Bus to Australia - Den Manning (27th Nov 2007 - 18:12:46) So sad to here about the death of John Wilson. I wasn't expecting to hear such tragic news. I really liked John a lot. He was one of life's gentlemen and a fine banjo-mandolin player to boot. When I think of John, I remember his "Spanish Omelettes" served up on the bus for breakfast just about every morning. I still eat them. I never met Adrian; and Alan was in England preparing to get married. You of course, Richard, were in the U.S. lining up that end of the tour. I was just an expat. ex muso, in Oz, determined to get back to England by fitting out a double-decker bus and driving it back overland. A crazy idea. Then Hairy Pillock II turns up in Brisbane. A big, British, d/d bus, and a band inside as well. We had a few jams, a lot of beer & got to know each other a bit. Despite that, the guys asked me if I'd fill your place in the band for a while, playing double-bass. I didn't let the fact that I'd never played one get in the way. Had a great time playing with them on the Gold Coast but had to leave (your good old personal reasons), and hitch back to Brisbane. A couple of months later I hocked my guitar and hitched to Sydney to catch up with Pillock & Co. again, but didn't bother to check that they were there. I found them up the Snowy Mts. in Thredbo. If I hadn't, I'd be an ice sculpture by now. Ah, the joys of a hot shower and a cup of tea when you haven't slept for a few days My last memory of Tim was sitting around the table back in Sydney, drinking cheap wine, writing stupid alternate lyrics to well known songs, and trying to fathom the vagaries of Australian politics. I'd already decided to hitch back to Brisbane before I pushed a friendship too far. And, it was time to get my own bus. So I knew that I might not see any of them again, but I thought that it would just be the tyranny of distance. Tim & John went far too soon. As for the rest; Clive, Tony,Dick,and of course, my fellow rhubarb thief, Bob; I hope we can make some sort of contact soon. Lorraine at the Deer's Hut has my email address. My time on the bus was only a brief part of my life. Too brief. But it was well worth it, just because of the quality of the players. With a couple of pints of cider in us, we were the Magnanimous Seven. I'm glad I was a small part of it. To you Richard, Adrian and Alan &, of course, the rest of the crew; my sympathy for your loss. Keep your chin up. Cheers, Den Manning.

Re: Bus to Australia / The Philanderers. - JOHN & DOREEN BAILIE (26th Mar 2009 - 00:12:06) Message to Richard King. Having enjoyed watching the dvd you left with us at the Broadwater Bed and Breakfast in Busselton, WA, we thought that a note of thanks would be in order. Over the last many months we have enjoyed watching your epic journey with many of our guests at the B&B. English guests particularly enjoy it as they can relate to that era. If ever you are in WA please do not hesitate to contact us, we would love to see you and speak to you about the trip. Saddened to hear of the loss of your dear friend, our fondest regards to you from John and Doreen Bailie

Re: Bus to Australia - Richard King (4th Apr 2009 - 13:30:39) Good to hear from John and Doreen. We enjoyed our stay in Busselton, which has an amazing pier. Anyone going to that part of Western Australia should stay at their very pleasant and friendly B&B. A quick update on the bus. The Pillock Organisation is arranging another reunion at the Deers Hut, Longmoor Road, Liphook on 30th August 2009. All are welcome to come along and join in. "Hairy Pillock 2", the world travelled bus will be there, as will all the surviving members of the original crew, plus all those who went to Spain in 1968 and hundreds of former Liphook YCs and their friends. Sadly Richard Hayes, another of our world travellers, died last year, so we thought it was about time we all got together again other than at another funeral! We're working on the Pillock Organisation website, which should be up and running in a few weeks and will contain up-to-date information about the reunion. Keep in touch!! Richard King

Re: Bus to Australia - Gerald Hall (15th Sep 2009 - 11:37:19) Would have been nice to read of your short stay on our front lawn in Balga, Perth Western Australia when I was in the RAAF, and the night club fun we had. Regards Gerry

Re: Bus to Australia - Editor (15th Sep 2009 - 12:01:00) I see they now have a Pillock Organisation web site. Alan

Re: Bus to Australia - susan stainer (20th Jun 2012 - 19:04:30) Just had to comment had a splendid afternoon with Richard King as one of our speakers at our ara meeting (active retired association) in Borstal hence Borstara clever eh, have bought the dvd and will settle down to watch it this weekend with my husband Dennis, who doesn`t think he is old enough to be a pensioner, (he is) took me back to my teen years in the 60`s would love to have been one of the people on the bus although I don`t think women were allowed!! Maybe I can be considered for the next tour what a adventure that would be.xxx

Re: Bus to Australia - Richard King (11th Jun 2015 - 22:35:36) Since my last posting more of the bus crew have died. Tony Hough died of cancer, and Alan Hughes, Clive's brother, died of pneumonia not long after having a foot amputated. That leaves Clive, Bob, Adrian and me. Bob now lives (with Libby) in Geraldine in the South Island of New Zealand, Clive lives on the Romney Marsh in Kent with his wife Deborah, Gale and I are just up the road in Egerton, Kent, and Adrian and Agy still live in Bramshott, Nr. Liphook. The bus still goes on trips - this year we're taking it to Ireland (Clive will be along, too). And on 20th November we're screening the film of our world trip, "Pillock Conquers the World" at the Millennium Hall, Liphook to raise funds for the Carnival Committee. If you want to know more about our travels you should come along.

Re: Bus to Australia - Editor (20th Nov 2015 - 12:08:01) Just bringing this back to light again. BBC news article Round-the-world bus trip: Folk singers' 1969 film screened

Re: Bus to Australia - Wendy (20th Nov 2015 - 12:15:22) On South Today tonight at 6.30 BBC1

Re: Bus to Australia - Rachel (20th Nov 2015 - 12:44:17) Tonight at the Millennium hall there will be a film shown of the HP's and their shenanigans. I think it starts at 7.pm. It will be the first time ever a film has been shown in public, so grab your ticket before it's too late. x I understand it may be sold out - so ensure you have phoned for a ticket before you go down.

Re: Bus to Australia - g renouf (20th Nov 2015 - 13:30:57) I think you will find this was shown at the Rex cinema in Haslemere many years ago ? Im sure the Pillocks will confirm this

Re: Bus to Australia - Richard King (20th Jun 2017 - 18:54:43) The latest in the Pillock saga is that we took Hairy Pillock 2 to Switzerland a couple of weeks ago, but they wouldn't let us in as the bus is 4.3 metres and the Swiss height limit is only 4 metres! The crew on this trip were myself (Richard King), Paul Johnson, Andrew Luff, Clive Hughes (another of the original Philanderers), Tigger Kent and Dave Austin. The bus travelled 1,150 miles in a week with no problems whatsoever. But the EXCITING NEWS is that my book about the world trip, entitled "Band on the Bus" is being released on 3rd July. Available at all good bookshops and on the internet (a Kindle version is available, too) it's in paperback and priced at £9.99. To have a sneak preview go to amazon.co.uk/dp/0750970200 Oh, and don't forget to buy tickets for the 'Peter, Paul & Mary's Brother' charity concert on Saturday 7th October at Liphook Village Hall. Peter Windibank has the tickets. Let me know what you think of the book!! Richard King

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