The Cornish Mining Sundowner returns with a party on the beach

After a 5-month gap the Cornish Mining Sundowner burst back to life last night, with a completely different setting. The last sundowner, back in February, was held at Falmouth's Chain Locker pub, which was the scheduled venue for July. The Chain Locker is now back in business, but unfortunately not for 'mass gatherings' such as ours, so on a balmy summer evening it was good to see old friends once more, this time for a 'bring your own' party on Falmouth's Gyllyngvase beach.

No handshakes or hugs of course. The Coronavirus will probably change forever our social greeting etiquette, which is probably not a bad thing. Handshakes, a great way to spread viruses, may be replaced by elbow bumping or simple lifting of the palm and a friendly 'Hi'. Hugging has always been an awkward social exercise- how well do you need to know someone before a handshake graduates to a hug, and should a hug be accompanied by a kiss on the cheek, or maybe a kiss on both cheeks?! Maybe in the new normal this will be the preserve of family members?

The pandemic was, of course, on all minds, and generally everyone has coped well with lockdown, not surprisingly as there cannot be many places in the world more attractive to spend a few months in confinement than Cornwall, which has become noticeably busier over the last couple of weeks as the nation's lockdown eases, and the tourists flock to the area for welcome breaks. CSM graduate Mark Alcock was one of these, down in Cornwall from Essex with his wife, and it was good to see him and reminisce about old times.

Welcome visitor Mark Alcock (right) with sundowner regulars

Current CSM Mining Engineering students with 1974 graduate Nick Clarke, mining lecturer Pat Foster and me

Those still gainfully employed are mostly working from home, and among those retired, former Elsevier Publishing Manager for Minerals Engineering, Dean Eastbury has been working for a local pharmacy in Hayle, delivering prescription medicines to those shielding at home- good on you Dean.

Dean Eastbury with Barbara Wills

There was not a great deal of mining talk last night. Recently (MEI Blog 16th April) Strongbow Exploration, who are planning reopening of the South Crofty tin mine, announced another significant new discovery of high grade copper and tin at its United Downs exploration project. Lucy Crane (right in photo below) of Cornish Lithium, said that more test drilling is planned following the completion of the South Crofty test drilling which started in June. To reflect its commitment to mining in Cornwall Strongbow Exploration changed its name to Cornish Metals Inc in July.

Last night's sundowner was probably one of the best, partly due to the setting and the weather, but more likely a very welcome change from sitting in front of a computer screen and attending Zoom meetings. Everyone agreed that getting back to social interaction was a welcome relief from the restrictions of the pandemic, and that we should do this again. So next month's sundowner will once again be on Gylly Beach, 5.30pm on August 20th. We hope to see you there!

@barrywills