I have so many memories of that place.
The annual school trip to the Royal Tournament in the mid-fifties. Thirty excited youngsters piling into a Bedford "sugar-box" coach and trundling "up" the A4 to London. Seeing that massive building that made Marlborough Town Hall look like a beech hut. I recall sitting on the wooden seats and wondering how they managed to stick paving slabs on the ceiling of that huge arena.
Military bands sent tingles up and down my young spine (they still do). Sailors taking big guns to bits, running to the other end and putting them back together. We all jumped out of our skins when they fired the flippin' thing.
Later, as a teenager, travelling up on the train to the Earls Court Motor Show. Returning home with carrier bags full of glossy brochures...drooling over magnificent Ford Zodiacs, Vauxhall Crestas and Triumph TR's.
Still later, the Boat Show, and wondering how on earth they got those huge gleaming motor yachts through the doors. One year we arrived in time to see the Mayor of London, very smart in morning suit and full regalia, marching through the great hall with his entourage to open the show.
So sad to see this announcement, a great place that had so much influence in my formative years.
RIP Earls Court
The annual school trip to the Royal Tournament in the mid-fifties. Thirty excited youngsters piling into a Bedford "sugar-box" coach and trundling "up" the A4 to London. Seeing that massive building that made Marlborough Town Hall look like a beech hut. I recall sitting on the wooden seats and wondering how they managed to stick paving slabs on the ceiling of that huge arena.
Military bands sent tingles up and down my young spine (they still do). Sailors taking big guns to bits, running to the other end and putting them back together. We all jumped out of our skins when they fired the flippin' thing.
Later, as a teenager, travelling up on the train to the Earls Court Motor Show. Returning home with carrier bags full of glossy brochures...drooling over magnificent Ford Zodiacs, Vauxhall Crestas and Triumph TR's.
Still later, the Boat Show, and wondering how on earth they got those huge gleaming motor yachts through the doors. One year we arrived in time to see the Mayor of London, very smart in morning suit and full regalia, marching through the great hall with his entourage to open the show.
So sad to see this announcement, a great place that had so much influence in my formative years.
RIP Earls Court
