We were going to hitch-hike to Brighton but, with three friends, first went to a gig at the Marquee Club on London’s Wardour Street. We probably got to the top of the Brixton Road, the A23 that leads to the M23 and the roads into Brighton, around 11 pm.
Expecting a driver to stop at that time of night, in a place like that, for four young men is only possible when you are as naïve as you are optimistic. And someone stopped. To this day we all remain grateful to the nameless driver who offered to drop us off at the start of the M23. That was a help but also a puzzle. We asked where could the driver possibly go once they got to the start of the motorway if not closer to Brighton. To our surprise and appreciation, the drive said he had just felt sorry for four young men trying to get a lift out of Brixton and thought he could help us on our way. He did and promptly turned around to go back to Brixton.
But that also meant that the four of us were standing in what felt like the middle of nowhere. By now it was nearer 11.30 pm and possibly later still. No less naïve and optimistic, we worked out we might do better if we split into two twos. It worked! A VW camper van promptly stopped for two of us. But since it was a van, the only thing to do was for the other two to rush to the vehicle and ask if there was room for everyone. They said yes! And they were going to Brighton.
Going to Brighton was helpful but not the coincidence. They were a French couple on holiday in the United Kingdom. The coincidence was that, when we asked where they had just come from, they said the Marquee Club on London’s Wardour Street!
Post-script: for some years, we kept in touch and it was great to visit them in Paris. What a great place to stay and what a great lift to Brighton.