Demonstrations	in the Mill
	Steam and Vehicle	Exhibits Outside
	Children's Drawings	and Activities
	Musical and	Community Events

Photos courtesy of Peter Benbow of Carn Brea Mining Society

 

KEM Open Day followed Camborne Trevithick Day  www.trevithick-day.org.uk with its famous parade of steam on Saturday 24th April 2010. We counted 1300 visitors to the free event this year, including the Mayor of Camborne, the leader of Cornwall Council, the local MP and 2 large steam engines. 

The Californian Stamps were run twice during the day, creating a great wall of noise and excitement from the crowds of people in the Mill.  There were demonstrations of the classifier, dipper wheel, shaking tables, round frame, rag frames, and demonstrations of the use of the vanning shovel.

There was entertainment from St Newlyn East Band and we have heard that the band members found the site extremely interesting and they learned a lot about tin processing.  

As Hevva (Cornish Music & Dance) were completing their second set they were joined in an impromptu version of the Helston Flora dance by several members of the public. The Ingleheart Singers gave us another session of varied songs, sung in beautiful harmony.

Many children enjoyed making the card board version of a miner’s helmet. We know we helped to make more than 70.  There were lots of good pictures created by youngsters with a keen eye for detail and very inquiring minds. One lad spent time looking at the Hornby railway and then came and made a lovely crayoned copy. The parents were amazed at good behaviour, but then the children were being creative because they wanted to and not because they had to be there.

The Trevithick Society replica of the Puffing Devil engine was on hand again to give us live steam along with its smaller static counterparts. There seemed to be more vintage vehicles than before including an ancient fire engine. Thanks to everyone who gave their time so freely to make this a very successful day.

Open Day 2011 will be on 1st May which is a Bank Holiday and we aim to make the event even better than this year.