Not really my story, but as we’ve been an ‘item’ for more than half our lives, I’m claiming it.
My husband’s family were market traders and therefore worked weekends and regular days of the week, depending on the markets they stood. When it came time for their summer holiday (vacation) they tended to take two or three days off between markets rather than the more traditional week or fortnight. They would also go everywhere in the van (for reference, think Scooby Doo’s Mystery Machine without the paintjob).
The in-laws were middle-aged when he came along so picture this, two late 40-somethings and a 7-year-old lad in a van off on their jollies.
They arrived at Jodrell Bank in Cheshire and walked right in, sat down amongst eminent scientists and settled down to watch events unfold.
The big cinema-type screen they watched it on must have been awe-inspiring for a little lad and they watched long into the night.
The five-hour gap between the landing and the astronauts actually emerging to take that “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” is described as ‘pretty exciting,’ but he can’t remember exactly what went on for the whole time. At 3.56am Neil Armstrong stood on the surface of the moon. It was the first ever all-night BBC Broadcast (back when the BBC were the leading force in actual, factual news).
Once the most iconic event of the 20th Century (and probably the history of mankind with regards to travel) had ended, the three poddled off back to their accommodation and slept.
Once they recovered from the excitement, they went on their way, probably to Wales.
Fast-forward to a couple of years ago. He asked his mum, now in her 90s.
“How did we get tickets to watch the moon landing at Jodrell Bank?”
Mum-in-law, a lovely, kind and generous lady, with never a hint of guile or deceit said, “Tickets? We just walked in and sat down.”
The shock on my husband’s face was utterly legendary as he realised his parents, with him as an unwitting accomplice, gate-crashed the Moon Landing.
Moon Landing - $26Billion (equivalent $100Billion today)
Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope - £1,100,000 (equivalent £18,000,000)
Hubby’s expression – Priceless