KING EDWARD MINE, TROON, CAMBORNE, TR14 6BW FRIDAY EVENING TALKS

Subject to alteration if necessary. All talks expected on Zoom where possible, a link will be sent prior to talks to all members where we hold an email address

February 20th – Owing to illness this talk has been cancelled until further notice

Michael Blackburn

Trevithick’s Engineering development from its origin in Camborne, Cornwall and its effects on the history of North Wales and the wider aspect on the whole world.

March 13th

Trevor Smitherham

Hayle Dynamite Works.

April 10th

Philip Hills

‘Walking with John Harris: Landscape of a Poet’ Exploring the landscape of John Harris, his childhood inspiration of Treslothan Moors and Woods. The impact of 19th century Cornish mining and the Cornish Miners walks to Dolcoath Mine. Comparisons with the Enclosures poet John Clare and the legacy of John Harris’s Poetry to revive the Cornish Spirit in the face of the new wave of 21st century technology.

AGM weekend May 1st-3rd, talk TBA

June 5th

Joel Griffet and Ben Sumpter

‘On the Avocado Mountain: Richard Trevithick in Costa Rica 1824-1827’  From importing weapons to prospecting for gold, this talk covers Richard Trevithick’s three and a half years in Costa Rica as a merchant and a miner, as well as the small Cornish legacy in the country that endured well into the nineteenth century.

July 10th

Martin Brockman

The Torrey Canyon disaster off the tip of Lands End in March 1967 left a legacy that remains to this day. Martin Brockman, An RNLI education volunteer, takes you through an audio visual journey of the Torrey Canyon’s life, her sad demise and the environmental devastation caused by the widespread pollution.  Martin comes from an RNLI family, his dad, Nigel, was one of the crew of the ill-fated ‘Solomon Browne’ Lifeboat lost in December 1981 when Martin was just 10 years old. Martin’s Brother Neil was a crew member of the ‘Solomon Browne’ and was turned away on that night, only to remain as crew for the RNLI for over 30 years, 16 as a decorated Coxswain at Penlee.  Martin’s dad was one of the crew of the Penlee lifeboat that was called to assist the Isles of Scilly lifeboat standing by the rescue and salvage attempt of the Torrey Canyon.

ZOOM-ONLY TALKS ON MONDAYS at 19.30, MEMBERS ONLY

FRIDAY February 20th

Ben Sumpter

Uranium & Radium Mining in Cornwall

March 9th

Roger Radcliffe

Sets & Spells Part 6 – Wheal Charlotte to Tobban Cove

This is the final presentation in the series and continues the story from Wheal Charlotte copper mine westward to the most westerly cove in St Agnes parish: Tobban Cove.  Along the way we meet a stranded Fin Whale, the shipwreck of the Rose of Devon and the controversy surrounding the burial of her drowned mariners; the story of Guinea-a-minute Daniell and the discovery of Wheal Towan; the Cornwall and Open Surfing Competition; the Miners’ and Farmers’ Pilchard seines; a submerged forest; the County Cross-course; and the once great arch of Tobban Hole.  A fascinating mixed bag of coastal history.

April 13th

Gareth Parry

Global communication – Cable or Satellite

Barely a day goes by without an update on new data centres to support Artificial Intelligence. The need to communicate with these centres is demanding and how we do so, changes frequently. Cornwall was at the forefront of international communication.  The first major telegraph cable came to Cornwall in 1870.  It still is at the fore front.  The new cable, 2Africa, arrived in Cornwall last year. It is the longest ever fibre optic cable. But competition from satellites is growing. Very recently, Elon Musk’s SpaceX got approval to add an additional 7,500 low Earth Orbit satellites. They think they need 42,000!

AGM Weekend

April 13th

Olaf Scupin (Germany) To be notified