Mary Proctor, first trip to Britain, Part 1 - Manawatu Conversations

Description: Broadcast on Manawatu People's Radio, 9th December 2025. Part 1 of 2.
Mary Proctor describes her first trip to Britain at age 70.
She felt an immediate sense of belonging in Scotland.
Her ancestors left in the 1850s, and she knew little of their past.
The landscape of northern England and Scotland moved her deeply.
She travelled through Edinburgh, rural Perthshire, and Oban.
A friendly young Scot on the train sang “Loch Lomond” with her.
Her hereditary tremor made photos difficult but didn’t limit her.
She noticed constant stairs and hill-built towns everywhere.
People walked more and seemed fitter than in New Zealand.
Parking was scarce, but public transport was excellent.
Narrow roads and courteous drivers stood out sharply.
The trip gave her a new emotional link to her family’s origins.