Remembering the Anguilla of yesteryear

WHAT a difference 37 years makes. I was fascinated with Rosemary McClure’s story [“Psssssst, Have You Heard ... “ March 19] about Anguilla’s $1,000-a-night standard hotel rooms and $75,000-a-week villas.

I spent eight delightful days as the Los Angeles Times staff writer covering the bloodless invasion of Anguilla by 350 British Red Devil paratroopers and 35 Scotland Yard bobbies nullifying a Feb. 8, 1969, bid for independence by 6,000 islanders.

At the time there were no telephones, no electricity, no paved roads, no hotels or motels, no movie houses, no fresh milk, not much of anything but some of the friendliest, most straightforward people ever encountered living on an undeveloped island, obviously a far cry from the Anguilla of today.

CHARLES HILLINGER

Rancho Palos Verdes