6 days ago
Four students in unique UK-US school exchange programme reunite 55 years later
FOUR people who took part in a unique UK-US school exchange programme have reunited in Amesbury 55 years later.
In 1970, at the age of 17, Clive Barton, Mike Nelson, Steve Deorocki, and Deb Whelan (nee Finley) swapped their schools, homes, and countries for a year.
Clive and Mike, accustomed to the all-boys Bishop Wordsworth School, found themselves in a co-ed environment at Amesbury High School in Massachusetts.
Meanwhile, Steve and Deb experienced the British education system, complete with its strict uniform policies.
This exchange happened in an era without mobile phones, the internet, or affordable international calls, making the experience even more daunting.
Clive and Mike had to book a single Christmas call home two weeks in advance, at a staggering cost of $24 a minute.
Mike and Clive packed everything they anticipated needing for a year in a climate with harsher seasons, including summer temperatures and deep winter snow, into one suitcase each.
Thanksgiving Dinner in the Nelson household, Amesbury, Wiltshire, Nov 1970 (Image: Julia Doig) They arrived at JFK airport in the sweltering August heat, dressed in their winter coats.
Despite being in the UK, Thanksgiving was a celebration they didn't miss out on, thanks to one of the host families who organised a traditional feast.
The year was filled with new experiences for all four.
Steve camped as a Scout, exploring much of the UK, an activity he hadn't considered in the US and thoroughly enjoyed.
Deb, fascinated by the differences in the same language, listed 400 words with differing meanings and wrote articles for her local US paper.
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Mike learned and reported on American football for the same paper.
Educationally, the American students returned home with college-worthy grades and smoothly transitioned with their peers, unsurprisingly pursuing careers and lives filled with travel.
However, Clive and Mike had to redo their last year of sixth form.
When asked if it was worth it, they gave a resounding 'yes'.
These 'kids', now 72, recently visited Amesbury History Centre for a reunion.
Waving hello to Deb Whelan (nee Finley) on Zoom (Image: Julia Doig) Steve made the trip from Amesbury, Massachusetts, while Deb joined via video from the US.
The reunion marked 55 years of keeping in touch, initially through airmail and later via Facebook.
Their extraordinary exchange experience originated from an advert in the Salisbury Journal, marking the first and only school exchange programme between the two Amesburys.
The Amesbury History Centre uncovered and shared the story of these remarkable individuals, celebrating an achievement that significantly impacted their lives.
The exchange programme turned out to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, enriching the lives of all those involved.
