Cambridge Visit.
A grey, misty morning changed as we approached Cambridge, into a cold but bright winter’s day. We were dropped close to the Fitzwilliam Museum. Some of us chose to look round the shops, perhaps for a Black Friday bargain, whilst others to enjoy Cambridge’s many interesting alleyways and buildings.
The Fitzwilliam Museum offered a good base as the facilities, including a spacious cafe, allowed opportunities to visit the exhibitions with a welcome break for refreshments and people watching. Today there were three free galleries available, part of their extensive Egyptian display, the ‘Journeys with Mai’ and the leather work collection, ‘Bound Together.’ ‘Journeys with Mai’ focussed on the visit to Britain by the first Polynesian person, but also the negative effect that the visit of Captain Cook had upon the islands and their inhabitants. ‘Bound Together’ displayed examples of Nigerian leather work but again reminded us of how colonisation affected these crafts and the people who originally made these objects.
Taking advantage of the sunshine a walk along the Fen Causeway and a visit to the Mathematical Bridge were ideal to allow one to absorb the information gained from the exhibits. Cambridge was vibrant with young people both students and tourist and the Colleges looked fine as always. As we drove out of Cambridge the lights from the Botanical Gardens display reminded us of the coming season. Thanks to our friendly coach driver.
Jocelyn Street