For most people, the club's Continental Tour of 1956 can be said to have started on Sunday, 19 August, although for me it commenced as far back as last October. Sunday saw the coming of the West Country strong-arm man, Alan Marsh, who was to perform for us in the shot and discus. Alan had been training diligently for several months by heaving a 14-lb weight about his farm in Hereford. Sunday also saw the coming of young John Tennant from Darlington to give us his assistance in the Junior field events, although in actual fact, he was to compete in more Senior events than Junior. In addition to the collection of these two specimens from the athletics backwoods, Ken Rouse and I travelled to the far corners of London to pick up baggage of all shapes and sizes. Did anyone find out why Con Milton took such a large trunk which on the outward journey seemed quite light when lifted? On the way home, it was noticeably heavier (has anyone seen any strange frauleins loose in Victoria Park?).

It was 4:45 am when I dragged myself from bed on Monday morning. My first task was to dial TOT 7649. At the other end, the dreary bleary voice of Bill Burton (NLH) drawled "OK, you blighter, I'm up." After cooking and eating breakfast, leaving the washing up and doing the last-minute packing, we (Alan, John, and I) were on our way. We reached Victoria Station at 7:15 am to find only a few chaps had arrived before us. It was not until 7:40 that all had arrived and we were able to proceed to our train. To greet us on the platform was "Paddy's Pole"; this object had been left by its owner, Ulich O'Connor, whilst he went to telephone Liverpool Street Station to find out whether we were travelling from there. Mick had travelled from Dublin to assist us in the pole vault. After a minor customs examination, with 31 of us aboard, the train puffed slowly out of Victoria at its prescribed hour of 8 am with Les Lait, Mrs Pepper and a few other supporters proving the flag waving and tears.

The journey from Victoria to Dover was uneventful and we duly arrived at the harbour at 9:45 am as per timetable. Excitement began to rise as we passed through Customs and on to the boat. We set sail at 10:30 and as the white cliffs of Dover faded on the horizon, 31 thirsty travellers made for the bar to taste the sweet nectar of duty free beer; and Flowers - don't let Mr Crump see you with those dice - you will lose your amateur status! As we neared the coast of Belgium, Pepper was caught peeping at bathing belles on the beach through his high-powered binoculars. He was also receiving his first lessons in German from some German girls who were returning home from England.

We docked at Ostend just after 2 o'clock and as we stepped ashore, for many this was the first visit to foreign soil. After waiting for Ulich to disembark with his pole, we proceeded en force through Customs. "Anything to declare?" rang through the Customs Shed, but no one was caught smuggling. We then boarded our train and at 2:45 pm were on our way - Germany bound. Our route passed through Brussels, but only a fleeting glimpse was caught of this city. Then through Liege to Aachen, the German border town. We stopped here for about 20 minutes, which gave the lads time to sample their first Frankfurter and Apfelsaft. Somebody pointed out that our baggage had been unloaded and was spread over the platform. Upon looking into this, it seemed to be just a Customs check and I didn't give it any further thought. However, when we reached Cologne, it was found that our baggage had been left at the platform at aachen as the train pulled out. We had a German athlete with us, Peter Zietlow, who assured us that it would reach Bonn quite safely by a slower train.

When we arrived in Bonn at 8:30 pm, a reception committee awaited us from K.T.V. Sudstern, the club with whom we were to compete. A German greeted me in English and presented me with a bunch of gladioli. I then proceeded to present the flowers to John Sullivan's wife - Frau Sullivan. After quite a scramble, we were eventually sorted into parties and transported in an assortment of Volkswagens to a hotel for a meal of Vienna Schnitzel. After the meal, there was a general hub-bub as each member of our party shot questions as to which room they were in. All was eventually settled and we were split into three parties, one of 20 to stay in the hotel where we had eaten, seven in another and four in another. 31 weary athletes then trooped to their allotted rooms and the first day of our tour was over.

The first job on Tuesday was to recover our baggage. Breakfast had been ordered for 9 o'clock and by 10, we were all set for a trip to the station. Our luggage had arrived and after a preliminary skirmish with a German customs official - I couldn't understand a word he said - we managed to obtain our baggage. The rest of the day was free and this was spent in varying ways. Some people stayed in Bonn for shopping or swimming, others went to Cologne to visit the Cathedral, possibly the world's greatest, and also to shop. In the evening, a training session was arranged and several of our athletes attended. The track was worse than Victoria Park but we were assured that we would be competing in a stadium with a first-class track. How right they were; the stadium put White City to shame. After training and a meal, a large number of us were attracted to the "Tabu", a so-called jazz club. Unfortunately, it was amateur night and we were not entertained by the screechy violins and out-of-tune singers. However, the pretty barmaid soon stole the attentions of our boys with promises of a kiss the next day. She spoke to soon because it was 5 minutes to midnight and our lads were just waiting for the gun.

On Wednesday, 25 of us took a trip down the Rhine in a small steamer to a place called Konigswinter where we were able to climb by mountain railway to the summit of the Drachenfels, the highest mountain in a range of seven in that area. We were able to obtain a fine view of the Rhine and also to sample some Apple Strudel with cream which was really delicious. We returned to Bonn by boat and there was a big rush to get to the stadium for our first meeting which was due to start at 6:30 pm.

The meeting commenced at 6:30 pm with a parade of athletes into the stadium which, incidentally, was 500 metres in circumference. Our team was led by our captain for the occasion Ken Rouse, who carried a Union Jack tied to a pole vaulter's pole. We were presented with a beautiful pennant and to reciprocate we gave the German club a set of six club spoons in a presentation case. The events were underway at 6:45 and our first victory came in the 100m (B) which Dennis Butler of Belgrave Harriers won in 11.6. The best sprinting in this meeting was by the German, Kaiser of Duren 99, who covered the short sprint in 11.2 and the 200m in 22.3. Butler showed 23.4. Alan Sexton from Belgrave, in the same race, was clocked at 22.4 for second place but in fact the German only won by inches. However, Alan was the star of the evening when he outclassed all opposition by winning the 400m in 48.4. Bill Huggins (RAF & VPH) was 3rd in 54.3.

A fine performance by a Junior athlete in the 400m was that of the German Kriesman of O.S.C. Bielefeld who covered the distance in 51.6. Our Juniors were outclassed in all sprints. In the 800, Ken Rouse made his effort at the 400m mark, which was misjudged in view of the long finishing straight of some 120 metres. He faded into third place down the straight only to come again 20m from the finish, but his effort could only bring him within inches of 2nd place. The race was won comfortably by Brian James of Bournemouth AC in 1:55.9. Ken's time was 1:56.4. Stuart Day and Bill Burton (NLH) easily filled the first two places in the 1500m, both timed at 4:02.8 with Cliff Roffey and Steve Boreham, both of Belgrave, and Vic Potter filling 4th, 5th, and 6th positions in 4:11.8, 4:16, and 4:22 respectively. The Junior 800m was a fine race, which was won in 2:00.5 by Weber of D.J.K. Eintracht, Bonn, with Charlie Dabbs of Belgrave second in 2:02. Con Milton finished 4th with 2:08, just outside his best. It was almost dark when the 4x100m relays were run. Our Juniors were outclassed when D.J.K. Eintracht won in 45.9 to D.J.K Lowe Koln. The final race, the 5000m, was run in complete darkness. but this didn't prevent Dave Baulch of Belgrave from slaying the field with 15:35.2. A German, Fromm, was 2nd in 16:02.6 and Gordon Biscoe (Belgrave) 3rd in 16:12.2. He was followed in by "Die Blumen Bruder" known to us as the Flowers brothers, Jack clocking 16:34 and Ted 16:35.4.

A most unfortunate incident was that of Johnny Sullivan pulling a muscle in the 100m whereupon he took a nasty tumble. Poor old John travelled all the way and failed to finish even one race. His injury possibly cost us the relays at this and later meetings. We were also handicapped by Peter Giles-Kimsey, who is a versatile performer, going down with ‘flu.

After the match at Bonn, several of the party went out to paint the town red. Others decided that they had had enough for one day and retired to bed to be fresh for the journey down the Rhine Valley to the Black Forest. The next morning (Thursday), armed with sandwiches, apfelsaft and coffee, we steamed out of Bonn at 10:05 to the waves and cheers of our newly found friends. It was more by luck than pre-arrangement that our trip to Basel was made without a change. Peter Kimsey, who unfortunately spent the whole of the previous day in bed with ‘flu, was able to travel with us and the journey didn’t have any adverse effects on him. We encountered some wonderful scenery traveling down the Rhine between Koblenz and Mainz. Hills rose up each side of the river, some gradual, some steep. Most were covered with vineyards and every so often one would spot a Schloss (castle). As we travelled south, the weather deteriorated and, for most of the journey, it was raining. Because of this, it wasn’t possible to appreciate the full beauty of the valley.

We reached Basel at 5:20, having travelled some 280 miles, making a total of 570 miles in all from London. We were now actually in Switzerland but the Germans have a station in Basel in order to avoid customs and passport formalities. Three members of the Rot Weiss Club, Lorrach, were waiting to greet us and conducted us to the platform for Lorrach. There was quite a scramble to get on the train as we were mixing with workers who had just finished and were homeward bound. It was only a ten-minute journey so I am sure no one suffered any great discomfort. When we reached Lorrach, we were conducted to the station hotel and there we discussed the arrangement of the hotels and everyone was dispatched once again in an assortment of Volkswagens to their respective hotels. Instead of being placed in three hotels as in Bonn, we were spread over seven with Alan Marsh and myself in private quarters. Four chaps from Belgrave finished up in the wilds about three miles out of town but next day they were transferred into the center. Later in the evening, we all met to arrange the programme for the week and to partake of apfelsaft and wiener schnitzel.

From the first moment that we set foot in Lorrach, it had been raining but the following morning (Friday), it was quite fine and we all met for training. Lorrach were similar to the Bonn club in that they had a track for training and one for racing. Some of our chaps did their formal training of fast-slow running bit other decided to go for fartlek in the woods. I was one of these and found it quite exhausting. The rest of the day was free. Some of the lads went swimming and I believe most of the party finished up by spending the evening in Basel.

The next day (Saturday), we had our second meeting, this being a match against Rot Weiss Club, Lorrach. This was a full-scale match with all events except triple jump, hurdles, steeplechase, and pole vault. Our Irish friend, Ulick O'Connor, however, provided us with some exhibition jumping. Owing to our weakness in some field events, we narrowly lost the match 69 points to 63. The margin would have been smaller but unfortunately, owing to a misunderstanding, a relay which we had requested, 8x200m, finished with us winning but with Lorrach ready to run two additional men, thinking it was a 10x200m. Another mishap occurred in the Junior Swedish relay when our 100m man did not appear on his mark, so that Alec Pepper, scheduled to run 200m, finished up doing 300m on his knees. No wonder he ran well recently in the Youths 1.5-mile road run!

The best performance of the day was again Alan Sexton's 400m in 49.5. He also took the 100m in 11.1. In the longer distances, we swamped the Germans with the first two places in each event. 800m James 1:56.9 and Burton 1:58.4, 1500m Rouse and Day equal 1st in 4:10.8, 3000m Biscoe 9:22.8 and Potter 9:36.8. We failed to win the sprint relay in a time of 45.9. In the field events, we had no winners. Among the Juniors, our sprinters were outclassed but we had second place in the 1000m with Con Milton running 2:46.4. In the Swedish Relay, we were second owing to the unfortunate occurrence mentioned above. Other VPH performances include: Senior: 200m Prevost 25.5 (3), 400m Huggins 54.4 (4), 3000m Ted Flowers 9:37.4 (3), SP Prevost 31'2" (9.50m), DT Prevost 101' (30.78m). Junior: 100m Pepper 12.6 (3), 1000m Gillingham 2:50.3 (3). During the evening, we assembled at the Rot-Weiss Club headquarters for an informal get-together.

The meeting in Basle was a triangular match advertised as London vs Basle vs Lorrach. The result was a narrow win for Basle represented by a club known as Satus. They scored 95 points to our 84. Lorrach were left struggling with 55 points. Their team wasn't at full strength as it had been the previous day and, in addition, those who had competed didn't show their best, whereas our chaps seemed to improve. In fact, a training session of Lasser Brau (German-type beer) and late nights seemed to work wonders. The track events were evenly spread with field events which meant that we were at a disadvantage from the start. As this was a Jubilee meeting to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Satus club and programmes had been specially printed for the occasion we had to fall in with the wishes of our hosts. However, our field events men rose to the occasion, especially Dave Rasey who gained first place in the high jump with 5'5" and 2nd place in the long jump with 20'6". These performances were quite meritorious in view of the fact that Dave was not anywhere near peak fitness owing to an injury which he sustained a few weeks before the tour. Well done, Dave!

As in the previous matches, the track events were our strong points. The 800m was another unlucky race for Ken Rouse who could only manage 2nd place against Kleiner (S-B), 1:59.0 to 1:59.5. In the long event, 3000m, the first five home were ours but only the first two scored, these being Brian (always eating) James in 8:49.8 and Stuart Day in 8:50.3. There were two relays, 4x100 and Swedish (400, 300, 200, 100) which we won in 2:05.6. An event which we asked to be run was a 10-minute paarlauf which was won by Con Milton paired with Steve Boreham (Belgrave) with a distance of 3,560 metres. Work that one out.

Following the match, there was a presentation of special plaques to mark the occasion. This was carried out in Olympic fashion with the captains of each team standing on a dais to receive the award. After the presentation, we were invited to a slap-up meal free of charge which was greatly welcomed. When this was over, the team split up and some returned to Lorrach while others decided to find out more about the night life of Basle.

So far, we had experienced fairly reasonable weather and Monday morning promised to be a real scorcher. This was not to be so, for by one o'clock, when we were due to meet for a trip into the Black Forest, black clouds had gathered and, as we started on our journey, the rain came down in torrents. Although the rain persisted for most of the afternoon, we were able to get one really beautiful view from Mount Feldberg. However, owing to the low-lying clouds, we couldn't take the chairlift to the top. The most interesting sights on this tour were possibly the old type wooden house, with gabled roof to give protection from the snow and wood stacked beneath the roof edge in readiness for the winter; the ski jump and the church at St Blasien which is a replica of St Peter's in Rome. We arrived back in Lorrach about seven o'clock.

The next day, Tuesday, was scheduled for a trip into Switzerland and this meant an early start, 6:30 am to be exact. Members of the party rolled up to the coach bleary-eyed and soon we were on our way to our first port of call, which was Berne, the capital city and venue for the 1954 European Games. We were allowed about three quarters of an hour here, but this was insufficient time to look around so quaint a place with so much to see. However, as we had such a long journey before us, it was necessary to push on. Our next stop was Interlaken, from where we were to have made an excursion into the Alps to see the Jung Frau, one of Switzerland's highest mountains. Unfortunately, owing to clouds which blotted out the fine mountain, we were unable to make the excursion and so stayed in Interlaken to have lunch, which turned out to be a most expensive one at that. After lunch, we moved on and en route we went through Brunnig Pass. Owing to low clouds which we actually passed through, we were unable to take advantage of the fine views which would have been available from the Pass. From Lucerne, we started our journey back to Basle. As most of our journey back was in darkness, it was generally thought that everybody would make up for lost sleep, but this was not to be as most of the party seemed prepared for the usual sing-song. I was able to lead this on a microphone which was installed in the coach. When we arrived back in Lorrach at about 9:30 pm, I believe everyone was ready for bed.

Wednesday saw our tour rapidly approaching its end with now only two days to go. The morning was free for swimming, shopping and other pastimes. I, unfortunately, ate something which upset me and spent the morning taking doses of some horrible medicine. By the afternoon, however, I was quite ready to accompany the rest of the party for a tour around a chocolate factory. We were conducted around this factory, the second largest in Germany, by a South African who had settled in Germany. This tour was most interesting, especially when we reached the cream chocolate department; there we discovered where all the local "talent" had been hiding. Upon leaving the factory, we were each presented with a bar of chocolate.

In the evening, we had some races against Old Boys Basle, one of Switzerland's strongest clubs. It was pouring with rain when we met in Basle and very few of the party wanted to compete, but when we reached the stadium, it had stopped and, as the local club seemed to be keen to go ahead, we agreed to have four races - 100m, 800m, 1500m, and 3000m. The track was marked out quicker than I have ever seen it done before and soon the meeting was underway. The 100m was run as two races with Ken Prevost 3rd in 12.3. In the B race, two of our juniors had a run to finish 3rd and 4th, these being Peter Kimsey 12.7 and Alec Pepper 12.9. In the 800m, Stuart finished 2nd in 2:01.5. Ken Rouse won the 1500m quite easily but was unable to break four minutes, completing the distance in 4:01.6. Con Milton recorded 4:30.2 in 6th place. In the 3000m, Stuart Day, running his second race of the evening, was 3rd in 9:18.8. Other VPH times and positions were Vic Potter 6th 9:33, Ted Flowers 7th 9:36, Jack Flowers 8th 9:37.

Thursday, our last full day, was free for most of the party to do as they wished. Four of us were invited to make a trip to Freiburg, the home of Gerschler, the famous German coach. Unfortunately, we weren't able to see him and secure any advice on our athletics problems. At six o'clock in the evening, about a dozen of us were presented to a representative of the Town Mayor (the Mayor himself being away on holiday) at the Town Hall. We spent a very pleasant hour supping wine and eating biscuits. The potency of the wine was more effective than many of our chaps expected and they just rolled merrily out when it was time to go. A dance was organised for the evening which was well attended by members and friends of the host club. The band was hardly one which you would expect at a Palaise de Danse, but it was quite lively in its way, playing a selection of marches and Viennese waltzes. The tempo, however, didn't dampen the spirits of our lads who were to be seen hopping about the floor. Thinking of the long journey home, most of our party left by midnight, leaving about three of us to hold the fort. I left at 1 am, but I understand that it didn't finish until about 3 am.

On Friday, the day of our departure, we all me at the Bahrehof at 9:30 am and were soon on our way to Basle where we were to catch a train for Paris at 11:14. Our journey to Paris was quite eventful because we were not travelling by the route shown on our ticket and the French ticket collector insisted on us paying additional fare. After a prolonged argument and the threat of finishing up in a French gaol, we decided that in order not to create an international incident, we would pay the fare demanded. We arrived in Paris at 7 o'clock in the evening. Here, we had a coach to transport us across Paris, at the same time giving us the opportunity of sightseeing. This trip lasted about 90 minutes in which time we saw most of the landmarks of Paris - Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Champs Elysees, etc. We left Paris at 10:03 pm and arrived at Dieppe at 12:33 am all ready for a pleasant sea crossing, but unfortunately this was not to be. The first sign of a rough crossing was the issue of bowls for those poor unfortunates whose sad plight it was to suffer from sea-sickness. Of the 28 who travelled back that night, 16 were sick, which shows for itself how rough the sea was. To cap this, we were greeted with the news that the GB vs Russia match had been cancelled - we had cut our tour short by one day to attend this most important event, but were we pleased when the boat docked at Newhaven and we were once again on "terra firma" even if we had the ordeal of the Customs inspection before us. Most of our chaps were able to come through unscathed, although one or two honest ones owned up to their dutiable importations and paid up smilingly. Our train set off just before 7 am and we reached Victoria 40 minutes later and from there we made our separate journeys home thoroughly tired out but contented, having had a most enjoyable trip. For the record, we covered 1,350 miles for the whole tour.

Dear Wayne,
Many thanks for the November 1998 issue of VPH News which is as good as ever. As one of the "old timers" (a Junior Captain and Committee Member in approximately 1957), I can well remember going on the Club tour to Germany in 1956 and apart from those other members referred to in the mag, I can recall Brian Gillingham and members of other clubs who joined the VPH party following an advert in Athletics Weekly to cover events which the VPH tourists could not. These included the Northern Ireland pole vault champion Ulick O’Connor who delighted in swearing at Germans thinking that as he had a pleasant smile at the time they would assume he was being complimentary. This proved to be an unwise assumption! He took his poles to Bonn but on arrival got talking to the welcoming party only to see the train depart before he had got the poles off! He did get them back—but two weeks after we returned and they came by ship from the Baltic! A number of Belgrave athletes were with us and by a strange coincidence I spoke to one, Gordon Biscoe, at a Surrey League Cross-Country race at Wimbledon last Saturday (21 Nov 98). I was one of only two in the party to speak any German so was in fairly great demand to choose restaurant menus or buy second-hand cameras. Having competed in Bonn where the hosts had brought together a number of touring teams from different countries to call it an "International" fixture, we journeyed to Lorrach on the Swiss border near Basle and competed there too. Some photographs of the trip are somewhere in my possession and I believe Gordon Everson might have some too. If I ever find them, I will send them on.
Kind Regards, Con L. Milton

Hi Wayne,
A Happy New Year and hope that you had a good time over Christmas. I bet you’ve already had some inputs regarding the VPH vs Germany trip in 1956 and the return visit in 1957. I found some photos of the trips and will send some copies. If you see Ken Rouse or Gordon Everson, ask them about Ulick O'Connor, our Irish pole-vaulter, the one who lost his pole! We had a combined team for the visit to Bonn with a number of Belgrave athletes as well as Ulick joining our team. We had a great reception and were feted as though we were Olympians. I understand that one member of the team disgraced himself at the official reception in the Town Hall but I can't quite remember who it was.
Best regards, Vic Potter

Dear Wayne,
Having read your "From Days Gone By" article in the last edition of VPH News, I did some reminiscing and I enclose a copy of a photo which appeared in the East London Advertiser. Here are just a few memories which spring to mind. Hopefully, they’ll trigger off more in the minds of others who recall the events:

1956 VPH Continental Tour - 20 August 1956 to 10 September 1956 This tour was the brainchild of Les Williams who was the Social Secretary at the time. I can say quite honestly that I can’t remember anything negative about the trip. Everyone seemed to enjoy it which is a tribute to the amount of detailed work Les undertook.