youth hostels, the history, people and ideas behind them
Democracy is coming to the YHA. Not as Leonard Cohen imagined, with a driving drum and a rousing chorus but democracy all the same. One-member-one-vote democracy. After the Youth Hostels Association's annual meeting in London on Saturday 30 June, from next year all members over-16 will be able to vote in elections to YHA’s Board... Continue Reading →
The original warehouse centre before modernisation. Photo courtesy YHA Archive at the Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham. On a visit to Bristol, last week I skipped past the youth hostel. I was late and didn’t have time to stop in what is still one of the my favourite city hostels. I’m as fond of... Continue Reading →
It's been a busy few weeks with a lightening trip to the Lake District, a trip to Edinburgh and a spate of writing to finish. Somehow I've managed to get this newsletter out early too, to be before the Easter break takes us all away. The Lake District was too brief - isn't it always - and... Continue Reading →
Back at Borrowdale in the Lake District a couple of weeks ago, I remembered I was last there about fifteen years ago. Lots has changed and lots has not, but that’s a bit like youth hostels too. Last time, I went to Borrowdale because the deputy prime minister, then John Prescott, wanted a visit. He... Continue Reading →
Chatting to a reporter from the BBC last week while taking part in an interview about the history of youth hostels, I was reminded that youth hostels were radical when they began and how much work had to be done to secure their future in 1930. Youth hostels are such a part of life for... Continue Reading →
SIMPLY HOSTELS 