Cummunications & Culture - W.I. Pack it in!

Sunday 20th September 2009

The secrets of the Telegraph Museum were revealed to the ladies of the W.I and their guests at Porthcurno today. The Museum proved to be a fascinating place and was once (and arguably still is) the worldwide hub for international communications via deep sea cables.  The talk given by Ann, concluded in a demonstration of how 20,000 volts could transmit messages around the world (thank goodness none of us had pacemakers!).  The Museum's main collections are held inside the tunnels (commissioned by Churchill to protect communications in WW2) and some of us climbed the 121 steps back to the surface to access the viewing platform.  It soon became clear that to those with an interest in communications, a half day visit wasn't enough!

       

After the Museum , came the Minack Theatre where a picnic lunch was enjoyed in brilliant sunshine before the commencement of a matinee performance of Proms at the Minack (based on the traditional Last Night theme, with a few novel twists including an Elvis "Impressions for Brass" interlude!) and which concluded with the battle of Trafalgar in words and music, complimented by fireworks. The guest conductor was Dr Nicholas Childs (Black Dyke Band); soloist Cheryl Brendish and compere John Maines. Much flag waving and singing was in evidence and a great time was had by all, even those who were attending their third proms event this year!

                     

The trip was a huge success, thanks to a gloriously sunny day and to the W.I. organisation.

But of course there is always one!

RWB