Anne Powell and I represented the Museum at the Eden Project on Friday 9 September in the grand farewell party to say farewell to Lady Mary Holborow as Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall. All the great and good of Cornwall were there, many of them wearing chains. Two people (us two) from each of the 33 organisations with which Lady Mary has been involved formed a wonderfully informal (think slightly chaotic) little procession, all of us bearing banners. We carried a large paddle with a flag on it and carried a model boat which was rather appropriate given the torrential rain outside.
Speeches were made - excellent and witty ones by Sir Michael Galsworthy and Lady Mary herself; dancing was done by TR14 a youth group from Camborne; Suzanne Manuell sang; a band played and the Truro Male Voice choir led us in Trelawney. All good Cornish stuff.
Lady Mary did say that there were two things she would not miss: too many emails and chicken breasts. At so many functions she has attended, the 'light and simple food' has included chicken breasts which have hung around for just too long and have ended up slightly dry and curling at the edge, or like reconstituted cardboard. She was looking forward to spending more time with her husband who was given a case of unbelievably expensive claret.
It was good to pay tribute to Lady Mary, a person about whom, as Tim Smit said, no one has ever said an unkind or critical word and who is a true ambassador for the county. Her help in setting up this Museum was, as delivered in her usual unassuming and yet influential manner.
Jonathan Griffin
