primreamer,
One of the reasons for so many stops was that the aircraft in those days had a relatively limited range. I can't remember the numbers, but London to Barbados was stretching it a bit on a Super VC10.
I have just looked through my logbook and see we certainly went to Rangoon on VC10s. One trip in 1973 shows the following itinerary. London-Beirut-Delhi-Rangoon-Hong Kong-Singapore-Darwin-Brisbane-Sydney-Melbourne-Auckland-Sydney-Brisbane-Melbourne-Perth-Singapore and then passenger back home on a 747. 14 days away and all so much more fun then I guess it is now!