Tour Memories – Bimal Dey

LONDON TRIP 2018

Down the memory lane

 About UK visa:

I applied on line and got Visa appointment from VSF, BKC, Mumbai with in the day I wanted. On appointment day, while requesting early processing of my application, I was told that normal process time is 15 working days. they suggested an alternate provision i.e. The Prompt processing (PP), time for that is 5 working days. Normal Visa fee is about Rs.9000/. Prompt Processing Fee is additional Rs. 20,000/. Limited choice, paid for PP. true I got my Visa with in 4 days.  For the first time I came to know that visa issue procedures are being done at UK consulate in Delhi, not from Mumbai(?)

Place where we stay

• The town is called St. NEOTS, about 70 miles from London. Cambridge is about 30 Miles away Located by side of River called OUSE. Every locations( colonies) are identified by their pin codes.
• This summer, London temperature was around 26 to 30 deg. C, for about a month. While it was not so uncomfortable for me, for Londoners this was unbearable/terrible hot summer. generally no AC or sealing fans are there in most the houses in UK only heating systems. I could see, the men were in short and without tops, women were on minimum. However during summer, various water sports activities are organized.  What a nice river navigation system have been developed/ exits  all over Europe.  well-maintained parks by the side these river have been developed.  Plenty of garbage bins separately for dog as well general use are provided.  water sports   are organized regularly. Families with their children and other guests, specially on Saturday/Sunday and public holidays, enjoy and take parts .  boat race competition is One of such event we witness called Dragon boat race. Plenty of food, entertainment facilities are available.
• I wonder why our rivers are not so used for such purposes in my country. Recently our transport minister, in india, sri nitin Gadkari has initiated some of such activities. Even goa-mumbai and back cruise services are being planned in the  state of goa.
• India Vs UK Cricket matches are going on. all 3 format of cricket matches are being played here. Betting during all sorts of spots and on-line betting are  advertised during all formats of the matches.
• Community Library is well managed. I used to spent good time often here.

About Oxford University

• The genteel city of Oxford is a privilege place, one of the world’s most famous university town. It socked in history dripping with august buildings and yet incredible insular. The 39 colleges that make up the university jealously guard their elegant honey coloured buildings and inside their grounds, a reverent huse and studious calm descends. Its date back almost 750 years.
• Oxford is highly aware of its international standing and yet is remarkably restrained for a city driven by its students papulation. It’s a conservative, bookish kind of place where academic achievements and intellectual ideals are the common currency. Cyclists in academic gowns blaze along the streets and vast library collections run a long sleeve deep below the city streets.  You hardly find parking for any other transports, except bus stands and cycle stands. Beyond the college.
• Strategically placed at the confluence of the rivers CHERWELL and THEMS, called the ISIS here from the Latin TAMESIS. Oxford was a key Saxon town heavily fortified by Alfred the great during war against Danes.
• The real wave of arrival of students in Oxford was in 12th. Century. Whether bored by lack of distractions or revolted by ignorance of local town people, enmity between students and the local folks started. Full scale riots occurred in1209 and 1330. The riots of 10 and 11 february1355 resulted in death of 63 students and 30 town people. King Edward III sent troop to quell the riots.  Thereafter He ordered that the university be broken in to colleges, each of which then developed its own traditions. Up to 1877 the colleges were for male only. During 1878 onwards, female students were admitted in university colleges. Even then it took 42 years before women would be granted a degree for their 4 years of hard word.  Today there are 39 colleges that cater for 20,000 students. In 2008 the last women’s only college, St. Hilda opened its door for male students.
• Ultimately due to continuous mistrust between the students and local people, the scholars of the university abandoned Oxford to established new university in Cambridge and Stamford.
• Oxford has long industrial past. Canal systems was established in the year 1790 and had profound effect on rest of Oxford. City’s real industrial boom came when industrialist Mr. William Morris began producing car here in 1913 and was birth place of the Morris Motor cars as well Mensa.
• Some of the colleges in Oxford are Balliol, Merton, university college, kelbe in 19 and 20 century, Christ church college, Magdalen college, Brasenose college, Corpus Christi college, Merton college, Trinity college, are among the 31 colleges in oxford.
• Connectivity between oxford and Cambridge is excellent. Beside other means, there is one dedicated bus ( No.X-5) runs very half an hour frequency from 8 am to 11 pm. The bus passes through st. noits.

City of university  Cambridge

• First a roman fort and then a saxon settlement, Cambridge was little more than a rural backwater until 1209 at the bank of a River called CAM. As mentioned in section oxford, the university of Cambridge  was established in this area. Like “ the other place” as oxford is known, the building here seem unchanged for centuries. the university was modelled on university of France and Italy.
• Countless prime ministers, poets, writers and scientists had studied here. The shear weight of academic achievement seems to seep from very walls with cyclists who are loaded down with books negotiating narrow cobbled passageways earnest students relaxing on manicured lawns and great minds debating life-changing research in historic pubs. Punters (boats) drift into the river cam as they soak up the breath -taking views. the cost of boat tour for about an hour is 13 pounds per person for senior citizen and 16 for others. City tour for tourists by boats are a big attraction as well good business for local guys. Restaurant/eateries are plenty along with these river tours. hop on -off city sight seeing buses are there costing 13 pounds for a trip of about 1 hour.
• Initially students lived in halls and religious houses, but gradually a collegiate system developed. The first Cambridge college, peterhouse was founded in1284. The honour roll of famous Cambridge graduates reads like an international who’s who of high achievers: 87 noble prize winners, 13 british prime ministers, 9 archbishops of Canterbury, an immense numbers of scientist and healthy host of poets and authors. Today there are 31 colleges out of which 3 are exclusive for women.

 VISIT TO DOVAR CASTLE AND PORT

• the visit was organised by mr. rohit singh, who is a british citizen & son of late mr. r.p.singh npcil retiree. It was sort of tribute to r.p.singh a friend and colleague to me for more than 40 years. ( see pictures attached)
• LOCATED AT THE NARROWEST POINT OF ENGLISH CHANNEL WHICH HAS SEEN TRAFFIC BETWEEN BRITAIN AND THE CONTINENT FOR ABOUT 6000 YEARS ON THE FAMOUS WHITE CLIFFS ( HILLS OF LIME) OF DOVER. ROMAN INVASION OF BRITAIN IN AD 43 BUILT LIGHT HOUSE HERE TO GUIDE SHIPS IN TO THE HARBOUR. A CHURCH AND SME KIND OF FORTIFICATION WERE ADDED BY SAXONS. WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR CAME HERE IN 1066, IMMIDIETLY AFTER THE BATTLE OF HASTINS AND STRENTHENED THE DEFENCE. IN 1180s HENRY ii REMODELLED THE CASTLE. BUILDING WORK CONTINUED IN THE FIRST HALF 13TH. CENTURY UNDER KING JOHN AND HENRY iii WHO COMPLETED THE SUCCESSIVE RINGS OF DEFENSIVE WALLS SORROUNDING THE GREAT TOWER. IN 1216-17 THESE DEFENCES WERE TWICE PUT TO THE TEST WHEN DOVER WITHSTOOD A LONG SEIGE BY FRENCH FORCES. FROM 1740s ON WARDSTHE MEDIEVAL BANKS AND DICHES WERE RESHAPED AS THE CASTLE WAS ADOPTED FOR ARTILLARY WARFARE AND DURING SECOND WORLD WAR IT BACAME THE HEADQUARTER FOR THE ADMIRALTY’S REGIONAL COMMAND. It was from here that vice-admiral Bertram ramsay organized operation dynamo, the evacuation of the British expeditionary forces from dunkirk in 1940.

View point over looking English channel &  dovar port

Entrance and ticket counter of dovar castle.

From left: me, Mr. munna singh brother of mrs. Malti sing.

From left: mrs. Malti singh, (Wife of r.p.singh)  B.Dey, mrs.rashmi singh & ms.raima singh,(wife of  & daughter of rohit singh, son of r.p.singh), Manju singh, mr. munna singh ( brother & Sister -in-law of Malti singh).

About the Author

Bimal Dey was Chief Engineer with Neuclear Power Corporation. He had travelled extensively around the world. After his retirement some 15 years back, he is now settled at Goa. He is aldo the current President of GZA.