This year, we are celebrating 100 years since the first pilgrimage from Liverpool to Lourdes.

Since the first pilgrimage, there has been a trip every year, with the only exceptions being during the Second World War and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Here, we are looking back on different memories from over the years. This time, it is the 1970s we are looking at. It was a time when Margaret Thatcher became the UK's first female Prime Minister, Queen rose to fame and Star Wars was released in cinemas.

Also, on the pilgrimage, we were sent a story by Dermot O'Connor, who hitch-hiked to Lourdes from Liverpool in 1977.

He said: “I first went to Lourdes in 1977. Fr Harnett and Louise Crossey, of the Catholic Youth Service, had organised a minibus trip. By the time I heard the minibus was full but someone suggested I hitch there and meet them in Lourdes, so I did.

“Louise dropped us off at Burtonwood Services and four days later we arrived in Lourdes. The group spent the week helping HCPT and we all became great friends meeting up after our return for drinks on Fridays. Our return trip took three days and we arrived back in Liverpool shortly after the minibus.  

“The coach had only two cassettes, The Shadows and The Stylistics but we made our own entertainment. We stayed in Cite Secours and helped with the Diocesan Pilgrimage.  There was a café on the way up the hill to Cite and we often stopped there. I was (am) fluent in French so I translated the orders etc.  Years later I was walking through Lourdes and heard shouts of 'Liverpool, Liverpool'. The owners of the café had recognised me! 

 “These and many more are happy memories of a place that has always been special to me.”

You can read more about this year's pilgrimage here.

In the meantime, here is the video showing the best bits of the 1970s below.