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It's the great London-Delhi trek for 330 Comex students
Page 76
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APARTY of 330 members of the English Speaking Union from 11 regions in Britain, including universities, technical and training colleges, industry and most Commonwealth countries, sets out on July 15 on what is claimed to be the largest overland movement ever undertaken between West and East.
It is the 6,590-mile Commonwealth Expedition 1967 (Comex 2), from London to Delhi at a cost of £34,599.
The plan for the new expedition owes much to the success of a pilot scheme. Comex 1, in 1965 when 210 young men and women crossed the Asian Highway in 23 days.
They travelled in six Ford Mariner coaches, visited 25 universities in 15 countries and arrived in Pakistan one hour ahead of schedule, at a maintenance cost of £7.
The secretariat organizing the expedition is purchasing new vehicles-11 Bedford VAS coaches with Duple Vista 30-seat bodies. Delivery is expected in June. Driving and maintenance will be done by the students themselves, and special training is being given by the manufacturers. Smaller vehicles have been chosen this time to simplify driving and maintenance.
New coaches have been chosen to guarantee the minimum amount of attention and repairs on the trip and also to ensure the best possible resale value once the expedition is over.
The journey will involve visits to more than 50 universities in 15 countries, although the major part of the programme will be in Pakistan and India.
Immediate purpose of the expedition is to demonstrate the Commonwealth association as a bridge of understanding between West and East. Long-term objective is to establish a permanent Commonwealth Centre in the Himalayan. town of Simla.