3:25pm Thursday 25th February 2010
By Gill Johnson
FOUR Burnley men wanted the world at their feet back in 1962 — they were planning an 18,000 mile hitch hike to Australia!
Stepping out for the long, long haul were John Bridge, of Olympia Street, Kenneth Duerden, of Waddington Avenue, Jack Harker, of Mitella Street, who were all 21 and 20-year-old Eddie Cryer, of Glebe Street.
Two years earlier, they had made plans to sail down under and actually bought a ship’s 30ft lifeboat for £40, but then abandoned the scheme because of the cost.
Instead, they came up with the idea of walking — and the plan was to trek through 28 countries before reaching Singapore and making the final jump by boat.
Equipped with more than 30 maps and charts and carrying 50lbs of gear, including tents, rucksacks, sleeping bags and cameras, they decided to walk in pairs and change partners at pre-arranged rendevouz points along the way.
That, according to Ken, the expedition secretary, would prevent them getting on each other’s nerves.
He said: “It will be tough going and a real strain on our character and endurance.
“We are doing it though, as we are fed up with the constant criticisms levelled at young people and although this is not our prime intention, if we achieve our goal, it will disprove the accusation that modern youth is spoon fed.” The foursome didn’t plan to settle on the other side of the world, rather stay for a couple of years and then return to Lancashire by more conventional means, aboard ship.
At the time John and Jack were engineers with the English Electric Company at Clayton-le-Moors, while Ken and Eddie were apprentice toolmakers at Lucas’s Northbridge factory in Burnley.
The hitchhikers are seen here going over their maps, from the left, Ken, Jack, Eddie and John.
• Did they make it? Indeed, did they ever set off? Can any reader tell us how the story of this hitchhiking marathon ended?
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