Taking a breather in Bath

It was a busy week last week, making final preparations for Computational Modelling '19 and Physical Separation '19, which start in just over a week's time. And Friday was the 'official' deadline for submission of abstracts for Flotation '19, which have been coming in thick and fast (it is by no means too late to submit abstracts, as we will be drafting a provisional timetable towards the middle of this month).

So yesterday was an opportune time to get away from it all, and we took a special Belmond Pullman train from Truro to the beautiful Somerset city of Bath, famous for its ancient Roman baths, and its Georgian architecture built from the local honey-coloured Jurassic limestone.

Bath is a popular tourist venue

Bath's magnificent Royal Crescent

Over one weekend in April 1942, Bath suffered three raids from 80 Luftwaffe aircraft which took off from Nazi occupied northern France. As the sirens wailed, few citizens took cover, even when the first pathfinder flares fell, the people of Bath still believing the attack was destined for nearby Bristol, which had had been hit almost every night for 4 months. 417 people were killed, another 1,000 injured. Over 19,000 buildings were affected, of which 1,100 were seriously damaged or destroyed, including 218 of architectural or historic interest, particularly houses in the Royal Crescent, Circus and Paragon. The majority of Bath's churches were greatly damaged but many of the buildings have subsequently been restored, although there are still some signs of the bombing.

WW2 shrapnel damage still visible

The Circus

After wandering around the city for 3 hours, we returned to the train for dinner, passing through some of Britain's most beautiful scenery, and back into Cornwall for final preparations for the Falmouth conferences.

Returning to Cornwall