Tuesday, January 28, 2014

LONDON, 1970s .. Hot-Walker novel has international intrigue!

Escape to London, 1974-75

 Following the path of Hot-Walker ... a close group of high school friends from the mid 1960s go their separate way following the murder of Francine Harrison's American fiance, John Mencini, at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. Horse racing and their years together become a distant but haunting memory as she recovers, grieving and waiting for answers to the horrific killing she witnessed. Feeling it is time to move on as the years pass by, Francine leaves her friends in Toronto, escaping to Europe in 1972, whereby new relationships unfold. She eventually moves to London .... always waiting for notification of trial requesting her return to Toronto.



Francine's years  in London during the mid 1970s were emotional and unsettling, full of change as history was being made throughout the country as well as in the rest of the world. It was a time of many Pub bombings, which happened everywhere from local neighborhood haunts to the busiest Tube stations along rush hour routes. There was a Fuel crisis and the government issued new speed limits to save gas at a time of Arab fuel embargoes. Inflation soared to 17.2%, an unbelievable increase.

The Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher defeated Edward Heath in the Conservative party leadership election at age 49 and parliament was under new unfamiliar leadership, for many politicians. The country was devastated with terrorism, train crashes, and protests that made headlines around the world, weekly. The airports were guarded, locations closed and yet the workers scrambled daily to work as London held its own. The number of jobless reached 1.25 million.

In the entertainment field, Led Zeppelin played at Earls Court with 5 sold-out concerts, and the first public performance by punk rock band Sex Pistols performed publicly. Fashion, music, sports never paused a beat as the rest of the country tried to keep up with the changes of its own growing pains.


                 



Women were recognized publicly, even in the field of education as five all male colleges accepted women undergraduates. In fact, the first female rabbi in Britain – Jackie Tabick was announced. These shocking changes took many Brits by surprise as England was altering its ways. The country became part of the European Space Agency and in transportation, Britain’s first production small hatchback was launched by Vauxhall Chevette.  On television the first episode of the series Fawlty Towers televised and immediately became a big hit across the land. 

    


Car racing was a popular sport in England even before Sterling Moss drove, but for fans all over the world, when race car driver Graham Hill died in an air crash at the age of 46, it was a shock that upset the whole racing community.

On a lighter note, the new Covent Garden Market, which was the largest wholesale fruit and vegetable and flower market in UK (SW London) covering 57 acres in Nine Elms, opened for business and was a huge success.

The 1975 record rainfall at 169 mm fell in the prestigious area Hampstead Heath in 155 minutes leaving the residents in a state of panic and discord which took months to clear and repair damages.





London, 1974-75

HOT-WALKER TRAILER:    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izWWQh8Odqk
for your viewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.