No, it’s not the name of a newly released film but an humorous attempt to describe our journey to Ironbridge for the Club’s Annual Summer Outing. It was an early start as we headed to the wilds of Shropshire and ignored the wisdom of Pythagoras as we journeyed along the M4, M5, M6 and finally the M54. After a close inspection of the local hedgerows, we eventually found the main car park for Blists Hill and started our day. The Victorian town provided many photographic opportunities with its wonderful recreation of the sights, sounds and smells of life in Victorian times. After that, we visited the Coalport China Museum where we were treated to a demonstration of the different methods that can be used to decorate china items. We then learned the requirements to become a saggar maker’s bottom knocker before having a walk through a bottle kiln used to fire the clay items. Next was the newly refurbished Museum of Iron where the developments that kick started the Industrial Revolution were documented and the visionary and extensive uses for cast iron were displayed. The final visit was to the Museum of the Gorge and then a stroll along the riverside to see the iconic Ironbridge itself.

It was a long day but the weather was excellent and everyone enjoyed themselves, whether they spent most of the day looking through a camera viewfinder or not.