Access to London – the Guide

I had a great phone chat with Gordon Crouch of the Access Guides (to London, Paris, Israel). They started their access guide projects way back in 1973  and published their guides from 1984. Gordon told me of how they went traveling and decided to share their knowledge and how their research is borne from going on holiday together and gathering information. The background to the Pauline Hephaistos Survey Projects can be read in the website.
I was awed by his wealth of experience and it was heartening to know that we agree on not having a ‘tick box’ mentality when we do our access audits. I felt I had so much to learn from him and the way he was open to me as a complete newcomer to the scene. He said the guides are meant to be used and he was not precious about the information in the Access guides.

He also gave me more ideas of using the underground. All in all it was a fascinating chat and we have agreed on having a meeting later to discuss future collaboration. I am very excited about this.  I shall write about the meeting when it happens.