Open Writing

1904

Muriel King and May Stinton travelled by train to Redruth, Cornwall, bound for the Trethisick Festival which was held annually in Camborne. They rose early, catching the train from Worcester to Birmingham. There they caught the Penzance Express to Plymouth where they changed again, taking a local train to Redruth.

The girls had of course gone travelling before. They went to London with their good friends Dot Duncan and Charlotte Walker. Dot had now left Worcester and Charlotte was looking after her father, who was senile, and was therefore unable to travel.

May was engaged to John Duncan Day, who was now aged 23. Muriel's intended husband, though it was not yet official, was John's brother Harold, aged 21, who was in his final year as a student at Camborne School of Mining. Muriel smiled to herself, grateful that May would be marrying John, for she had once intended to win his hand. Of course she still liked John, but she loved Harold who was much more in tune with her way of thinking.

John would soon come down after his four year theology course at Oxford. He was in the process of becoming an Anglican priest and had alreay secured a good job. In September he would become senior English master at Warwick School. John and May's wedding day was scheduled for spring, 1906, and May was already looking forwards to living in Warwickshire.

The girls had often talked about having a double wedding, but Muriel wasn't as yet officially engaged. Harold was very anxious to get married, but he also wanted as soon as he was married to work abroad. perhaps in Malaya or South Africa. He was already looking for jobs abroad. Muriel had no intention of rushing into marriage, then immediately moving to another country. She was devoted to her parents, especially her father. She had not spent much time with Harold. Their courtship had largely been conducted by means of letters. They both enjoyed writing and receiving those letters. In each letter they included an apt quotation, and these quotations had become something in the nature of a secret code.

Harold, nearing the end of his formal education at the Camborne School of Mining, anticipated a First Class honours award. With that he would have little difficulty in getting a good job in Cornwall, and Muriel encouraged him to do so. However he had applied for a mining position in the Federated States of Malaya.

Muriel knew all about his work. His letters had presented details of mining, including its history. While in Cornwall Harold had worked at South Crofty Mine as an assistant to the manager. Earlier, his practice work was done at King Edward Mine. In 1897, the School took over the abandoned eastern part of the South Condurrow Mine around Engine Shaft and in 1901 it was renamed after the new King. This offered the students the opportunity to work both William's Lode and the Great Flat Lode down to 400 feet from the surface. The mine was operated semi-commercially and produced tin on a regular basis, employing between 10 and 20, men in additional to the college teaching staff. Students carried out much of the production work.

Muriel and May were met by Harold at Redruth station. They kissed him, saying how pleased they were to see him. They were escorted to the 300-year-old Plough Inn on College Street. Tired by their long journey, the girls ppted for a meal at the inn, during which they updated Harold on the latest Worcester gossip. They then retired for the night, having arranged to meet up early the next morning to enjoy a day's festivities.

In the following morning the weather was glorious, and revellers were soon thronging the main streets which had been closed to traffic.

The day's programme offered a variety of delights:

11 am Bal Maidens & Miners Dance - led by miniature steam engines and Camborne Town Band, with school children dressed in traditional costumes of miners and bal-maidens.

2 pm Trevithick's Dance - adults processional dance, led by Camborne Town Band. Dancers dressed in gold and black, Cornish colours.
(both dances follow a route that takes them through the central streets of the town)
Indoor exhibitions - all day long - i.e. schools competition entries, Church Flower Festival, display on the life of Trevithick, model exhibition (trains, steam vehicles etc.)
Static Displays - of steam vehicles, fair organs, stationery engines, vintage vehicles, etc.
Free Street Entertainment - e.g. from locally based performers choirs, Camborne Town Band, buskers, musicians, jugglers, and theatre groups etc.
The Annual Steam parade - The engines will steam along Church Street, down Wellington Road and Trelawney Road, then up (Camborne Hill) Tehidy Road and back to Basset Road.

The girls and Harold had a wonderfully full day, and were very tired when they finally decided to stop. In the evening they met up for a meal, then Harold took his leave because he had to be up early the next morning to work.

On Friday the girls walked in the countryside near the town, and on Saturday they went to Falmouth. They walked on the beach at Maenporth, enjoying the feel of the sand between their toes as they watched the ebb and flow of the Atlantic ocean.

On Sunday, after church, they visited Trelissick Gardens. By that time the girls had sore feet, having done a great deal of walking during their visit to Cornwall.

Muriel and May said their goodbyes to Harold on the Sunday evening. Harold had privately told Muriel he had applied for a job in Malaya, and if he got it he would leave in September to fulfil a two-year contract. Muriel was not surprised by this annoucement, yet, with regret, she felt Harold was slipping away from her before she had really got to know him.

**

Harold was indeed awarded first class honours when he completed his course. He was accepted for a job in Perak in the Federated Malay States and could hardly contain his joy. He read numerous books about that part of the world. Muriel tried to share his enthusiastic mood, but she was feeling that he was so wrapped up in his career that he had no time for her.

She was joyfully surprised when, after a dinner at a fine restaurant, Harold went down on one knee and proposed marriage. (Being a well-brought up young man he had first sought Mr King's approval for his intention to marry Muriel).

He presented Muriel with a sapphire and diamond ring. They kissed and hugged.

"We will need to check with the Rector about having the banns read soon," said Harold. "We don't have much time. We must be leaving soon.''

"Oh," said Muriel, "I don't want a rushed wedding. I don't want people thinking that I am with child and we have to get married in a hurry. I think we should postpone it until you come home on leave, and then we can plan it properly. Why don't we plan on having a double wedding with John and May next April? That would give you the chance to see how you like living in Malaya and if you don't like it, you can get a job around here again."

Harold could barely conceal his disappointment, but he said he was prepared to go along with Muriel's suggestion.

There followed engagement parties and going away parties, and all too soon it was time for Harold to head for the port to board the ship that would take him to the other side of the world.

Muriel was in tears when they said their goodbyes. There were moments when she felt she had made the wrong decision in not going with him to Malaya, but she realised that she had made the sensible choice. She secretly hoped that Harold's wanderlust would have been exhausted by the next time she saw him, and that she would never be required to leave the family she so much loved.