In 1954 an adventurous young mother attempts to drive 4,000 miles from England to Iraq with her three young children, all in the name of love...
Mary Tisdall is 31, has never been abroad before and only recently passed her driving test
In the back of her 1948 Hillman Minx saloon she has her three children - Roger (7), Susan (5) and Bridget (2)
Her mission is to join her husband, Billy, who is a sergeant in the Royal Air Force. Ten months previously he had been sent to a base in the Iraqi desert. They can't bear to be separated and hatch a secret plan to reunite that they call 'Operation Magic Carpet'
The children are unaware that this epic drive will take three weeks. In Belgium they stop and pick wildflowers 'to give to Daddy', even though he is still thousands of miles away
By good fortune, Mary has a brother, Alan, who works for The Automobile Association. He supplies a detailed route map for crossing Europe, which is still rebuilding after the horrors of the Second World War
Mary rushes up to London to get visas for Syria and Iraq. Vaccinations and dental checks are arranged and and a Pickfords van arrives to put all their worldly goods into storage
Unfortunately, things don't go to plan. You can learn more about Mary's intrepid road trip in this feature published by the Daily Mail (UK).
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13586143/Baghdad-lover.html
A book is in the pipeline, so drop us a note if you'd like to know when it's available.
Best wishes,
Roger, Susan, Bridget and Nigel (who was born a little later)
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