Torquay: Postcard from ‘Lex Toonan’ – Meeting Peter Middleton (c. 1995)

I received a telephone call one sunny Tuesday morning (around 9am) from my friend Lex Toonan who lived in the Netherlands – stating that he was already in the process of ‘hitch-hiking’ from Holland – down to France, and across the English Channel by Ferry – and then continue to ‘hitch-hike’ from Dover to Torquay! Although ‘hitch-hiking’ is not an exact science – Lex was of the opinion that he could make it from Utrecht to ‘Meadfoot’ beach (in Torquay) by ‘3pm’ – a distance of some 496.3 miles! I lived in Tiverton at that time, and as this day was for administrative, archiving and letter-writing – I possessed the leisure time to travel to Torquay (a journey of 46 miles by bus to Exeter and then by train from Exeter Central to Torquay)!

As matters transpired, I arrived at Meadfoot beach in Torquay by 145pm and set about waiting. Believe or not – a lorry pulled up at 2pm and Lex got out bang on time! We then met Peter Middleton (and his lovely partner) and traversed back to their home. We shared a meal, and discussed the ‘Rajnesh’ situation that had occurred in India. Peter’s partner had been a part of the Rajneesh Commune and told me how the Indian Authorities stormed the compound and killed a number of his unarmed followers who were protecting his dead body (he apparently had died in the upright sitting position – like all great Sages) as the Indian Government did not want Rajneesh associated with ‘great’ spiritual leaders! Around 5pm I said ‘thank you’ for the hospitality and slowly made my way home! A few weeks later I received this ‘Postcard’ made from a photograph that Lex had taken himself whilst we sat on Berry Head!