Manchester Museum 22nd October 2009

We visited the Charles Darw[n exhibition which had been produced by Henry McGhie and Peter Brown from the wealth of their Darwin collection.
Yhe story boards show Darwin as a young boy of ten through to later life and records his many adventures and discoveries. Due to their fragility, some specimens are shown in a dim light and it would have been of great help to me if they could have been mounted on a contrasting base and background.
Henry told us about Darwin the man who at age 16 had been sent to Edinburgh University to study medicine and then age 18 to Cambridge to study theology but \ttended few lectures and devoted his time carousing with his friends. His real passion was for collecting and studying items of natural science. We were enthralled by Henry's descriptions of Darwin's life and his amazing ability to understand the progress of evolution.
We had the opportunity to handle some items such as a duckbill platipuss, tawny owl, the shell of an armourdillo, a sponge two very different corals and many more with the help of Alan, Michelle and Vivienne who are Museum volunteers.
Ann gave us her usual vivid and detailed descriptions, when she could get a word in edgeways that is, because of Henry's enthusiasum about Darwin.
We rounded off the morning with a welcome drink and biscuit and thanks to Mary and all of the volunteers who make these visits possible for us.
The Museum has published maby of Darwin's texts in the form of a newspaper in braille and large print as well as the normal format.
posted by Elaine