Cookson brothers 1970.

Brothers in Australia, 1970

 As today (27th July) is my late brother Richard's birthday I thought I would put up some memories, and a few photos of him that have made it into digital format. Richard is on the right here, I'm in the middle, Chris to the left.

All Cooksons, 1970

After graduating in London in 1969, thanks to our parents Richard and I were able to drive a Land-Rover from London to Australia. After leaving England at the end of September 1969 we arrived in Perth, WA, in January 1970. Later that year Mum and Dad and Chris (who was about to start university in England) visited us in Perth, en route from a trip to Japan for the Expo 70 World Fair. These pictures were taken on a day trip from Perth to an abandoned timber mill, Hoffman's Mill, near Dwellingup, south of Perth. We had been there before in the Land-Rover, and knew the area. The bridge behind us is the famous Harvey River Bridge, an old wooden bridge. 

Richard in Perth, 1972

I didn't take this one, so I guess it was taken in early 1972, possibly as an ID shot for sky-diving, which he had started. He was killed in a car accident, driving to his first actual jump. He came up a hill on a Sunday morning, going east towards Northam, got the sun full in his face as he crested the hill, missed the bend, went off into a field and rolled into a tree. Tragic way to go. 

Richard had decided to stay on in Australia when I headed back to England at the end of May 1971, as his girlfriend in England was Australian, and her family was relocating back to Sydney. That didn't work out as well as he hoped, but he was enjoying life in Perth and decided to stay. He had a grand job as a medical lab. technologist for the Public Health Labs, and had bought himself a nice old Series 1 Land Rover, which he fitted with a tuned 3.5 litre 6 cylinder Chrysler Valiant engine. He got through a few gearboxes, I believe! 

Snow in Turkey, 1969

Richard enjoying a snowball fight in the mountains of eastern Turkey, somewhere in the Erzurum area! 

Summer Hill pool, 50's

A very early photo! This was taken in the pool at Summer Hill, Bishopscourt, which my parents built in 1947 or so. We were all raised there. This picture is from the late 50's, I guess. We were actually on a blow-up Moomin! From R to L, Richard, me, Chris. Happy days!

Contour Path, 50's

Another favourite from the late 50's. This was taken on a hike up to and along a stretch of the famous contour path, above Kirstenbosch Gardens. I remember that day, as Richard was very proud of the huge branch he picked up and used as a stick!

Swildon's 1967

10 years or so later we had gone underground! This was taken on the "40 foot pot" in Swildon's Hole a pothole we used to explore near Priddy in Somerset. This was actually a waterfall, and we took a roll-up metal ladder to get down (and up!) it. It was also cold, so we wore wetsuits under overalls. Richard made his by gluing an ex-army battledress top and trousers together! 

Priddy, Somerset, 1967

This was probably taken the same day as the one above. We didn't often take a camera underground. We used to camp in the farmer's barn, along with other folk. 

Swildons 

This was taken at the top of the 40 foot pot, waiting our turn to descend. Richard on the right, friend and neighbour Jonathon on the left, and I've forgotten the name of the other friend in the middle, but I remember he was very tall! 

The famous 40 foot pot is no longer there, after a major storm in the 70s flooded and re-organised the cave interior. 

Leaving Perth 1971

Richard is the one on the left here, leaning on our Land-Rover. I'm the one in the red hat leaning on Pete and Di's (on the right) Land-Rover. Friend Jack Crosby is sitting on Pete and Di's bonnet, while friend Mal Dingwall is sitting on the ground in front of Jack's Datsun 2000 sportster.
This was taken in the car park of Cottesloe Heights in Perth, where we had rented a flat. This was taken towards the end of 1970, when I was heading off to the North with Pete and Di for a few months.