Thank you to Jim Fraser for sharing these photos and his memory of a Madrid trip in 1959:

Came across a few photos from the 1959 Spanish exchange visit to Instituto Ramiro de Maeztu  College in Madrid which was a follow up to the successful trip in 1958 (the first since World War Two). The photos show staff members Coupar. Arneil and Barr who accompanied the pupils ( om Dennis was also there but must have been camera shy) and also a view of Toledo and a view from the Royal Palace in Madrid.

The 48 hour trip was by rail starting from Waverley Station to London, Dover to Calais by boat then rail to Paris, Canfranc then finally Madrid. During the three weeks we visited El Escorial, The Royal Palace, The Prado, Toledo, Retiro Park as well as attending the college for some Spanish lessons, the school Principal was head of Opus Dei in Spain and a personal friend of General Franco which allowed us access to places not permitted to the general public at the time. The De Paranagua family who I stayed with lived in a penthouse in Madrid as the father was the Brazilian Ambassador to Spain – this opened many doors for trips with the family to places like Segovia, Casa De Campo and to the main riding school in Madrid where they stabled their own horses and where I learned to horse ride.

Jim Fraser (1964)