youth hostels, the history, people and ideas behind them
Continuing the story of Hilary Hughes, based on the log book of her cycle tour in the South of England in August 1936, a fascinating glimpse into the lives of two young women in 1936, when they were alone in the world, unaided, for a week. Breakfast was nothing, Hilary declared to her diary; a... Continue Reading →
Continuing the story of Hilary Hughes, based on the log book of her cycle tour in the South of England, a fascinating glimpse into the lives of two young women in 1936, when they were alone in the world, unaided, for a week. 1936 was a momentous year. The Royal scandal of King Edward’s relationship... Continue Reading →
A visit by Tom Fairclough, one of the founding members of YHA, to Germany in 1929 is well recorded. That visit inspired him to found the first youth hostel group in Britain at the end of 1929. Less known are earlier visits by others, that help to show the widespread, grassroots nature of YHA at... Continue Reading →
War in the Ukraine and our response remind me of the work of Jack Catchpool to achieve peace in the run up to the Second World War. Despite many of the difficulties he faced and criticisms that can be made of his approach to peace, which at times look like appeasement of the threat, I... Continue Reading →
Youth hostels, good-will and reconciliation Youth hostels had always been practical, all about self-help, with “a vigorous tradition of eager volunteers going off on their weekends to help build or convert new hostels...” * Jack Catchpool, first national secretary of YHA (England and Wales), was sure that, in bringing young people together to work at... Continue Reading →
SIMPLY HOSTELS 