Personal Memories Lead Up To 1971 London Bridge Dedication

By Becky Maxedon

As Lake Havasu City prepares to celebrate the dedication of the London Bridge in 1971, one of those closest to the story shares some nostalgic and interesting anecdotes to the event.

Sheila McCulloch is the granddaughter of Robert P. McCulloch and the daughter of Robert P. McCulloch Jr., so she has witnessed the story of both Lake Havasu City and the acquisition of the London Bridge since its inception.

Sheila McCulloch in front of a Lake Havasu City sign. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

A press statement by the Corporation of London – which was embargoed until April 18, 1968 – states, “The McCulloch Oil Corporation of California has purchased London Bridge from the Corporation of London for $2,460,000 (approx. £1,015,000). The Bridge will be rebuilt at Lake Havasu City in Arizona.”

“The Corporation of London Press Statement was embargoed until April 18, 1968, because the London Bridge Contract of Sale was executed at the City of London’s Comptroller’s Office on April 16, 1968, between Mr. Desmond Heap, Comptroller and City Solicitor and my godfather, C. V. Wood Jr., President of McCulloch Oil Corp., the purchaser of the bridge. My father, Robert P. McCulloch Jr., represented McCulloch Oil Corp. at the April 18, 1968, press event in London,” McCulloch said.

McCulloch Properties Lake Havasu London Bridge

A relief map of the proposed location of the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City was included in the press kit released to the public. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

“My parents were both there. I believe Jay Coombs’ parents may have been as well. I don’t know who received all of the press kits, but the one I have belonged to Roland Jack Pitts Barber, former WWII RAF pilot, who was the agent for the City of London, overseeing the dismantling, shipping, and reconstruction between 1968-1971,” she said.

Barber lived with her family in Los Angles during that time.

“He subsequently was hired by my grandfather to work in Los Angeles for McCulloch Oil Corporation. Jack remained in Southern California, passing at his home in the ‘90s,” she said.

The dedication of the bridge is a point of contention for McCulloch.

“This is a story and still makes my 8-year-old little girl self mad!

“The Lord Mayor of London in 1970/71 was Sir Peter Studd. He and his wife were dinner guests at our Los Angeles home several times in 1971, including during the week leading up to the Dedication in Havasu. Normally my grandparents would also be there, but not that last dinner.

Sir Peter Studd at the London Bridge Days Dedication ceremony 1971. Photo courtesy Sheila McCulloch

“Present were Sir Peter and his lovely wife, Jack Barber, my mom and dad, and me and my little sister. I had already begged to be allowed to miss school, so I could attend, and was immediately shot down by my mother,” she said.

But McCulloch didn’t leave it there.

“Being me, I decided to press the issue with her at that dinner table.

“Sir Peter got her to listen to my argument, and to agree to let the adults vote on it. Mom remained a hard no. My dad voted yes. Mr. Barber voted with my mother, citing the fact that she did his laundry and fed him.

“Mrs. Studd voted with my dad, saying she felt this was an important moment in history, making missing school acceptable. Sir Peter was the deciding vote. He voted no with my mom, crushing me.”

But there was a consolation prize.

“He also asked me to go get a piece of notebook paper and scissors. I brought them to the dining table, and the Lord Mayor of London folded that paper up, started scissoring, and when he finally unfolded the paper, it wasn’t little figures holding hands, it was the word HELL in caps. He looked at me and said he understood exactly how I felt.

“A couple of months later, I received a package from London in the mail. It was a gift from Uncle Peter – a coffee table book about London, which he inscribed to me.”

McCulloch provided RiverScene Magazine with some of the pages that are contained in the press packet from the announcement of the sale.

Please watch for another story that will reveal Sheila McCulloch’s early memories of Lake Havasu City, accompanied by photos.

Lake Havasu City Press Statement RiverScene Magazine 1968 McCulloch Properties

The press release kit was presented following the sale of the London Bridge. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

The opening page of a red book that is in a London Bridge purchase press kit. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

London Bridge Press Kit 1968 Sheila McCulloch Jack Barber

Page two of the red book that is included in the press kit. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

London Bridge Press Kit Lake Havasu City AZ RiverScene Magazine

Page three of a red book that was included in the London Bridge press kit. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

A relief map of the proposed location of the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City was included in the press kit released to the public. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Lake Havasu City drawing London Bridge RiverScene Magazine

This is a drawing of a proposed hotel next to the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City,AZ from 1968. The drawing was included in the press kit that was sent out after the purchase of the London Bridge. Photo of drawing Jilian Danielson/RiverScene

A concept art drawing of the proposed English Village in Lake Havasu City, AZ that is included in the press kit. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

London Bridge drawing Lake Havasu City English Village RiverScene Magazine

A concept art drawing of the proposed English Village in Lake Havasu City, AZ that is included in the press kit. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

London Bridge Lake Havasu Press Kit RiverScene magazine

A concept art drawing of the proposed English Village in Lake Havasu City, AZ that is included in the press kit. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

A concept art drawing of the proposed English Village in Lake Havasu City, AZ that is included in the press kit. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Consulting Engineers for the purchase of London Bridge. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Lake Havasu London Bridge Press Kit RiverScene

A drawing of the London Bridge that is included in the press kit. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

A drawing of the London Bridge that is included in the press kit. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

RiverScene Magazine London Bridge drawing

A drawing of the London Bridge that is included in the press kit. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

A drawing of the London Bridge that is included in the press kit. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

A drawing of the London Bridge that is included in the press kit. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Photo of the demolition and shipping of the London Bridge from London to Lake Havasu City, AZ 1968. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene