My First Flight With Cunard Eagle to Meet my French Penfriend

I had never previously flown so at the age of 15 I went on an aeroplane for the first time. It was a flight from Heathrow Airport to Dinard in northern France which I made by myself.  

I was travelling to meet my French penfriend, Michel Laine, to spend the summer with his family and improve my language skills in anticipation of my GCE 'O' Level exam later that year. The plane was operated by Cunard Eagle airways and I recall it had four propellers!!

Now we are almost 50 years on I guess the plane has long since rusted away and as for the Cunard Eagle name it faded into obscurity.

Heathrow was a lot smaller in those far off days and I can remember standing on the flat roof of one of the terminal buildings watching take-offs and landings. Its hard to believe the lack of security in the 1960's when we consider how concerned with safety Heathrow now is!

My visit to France is remembered fondly - I met so many of Michel's cousins and enjoyed my month staying with them at their seaside home in Le Val Andre.