The english weather is notoriously unpredictable and fickle, never more so than during August's total eclipse as many people can testify. Barry and Barbara Richards travelled to Cornwall to watch the eclipse with Derek and Lynne Smith. Here is their story told in an email from Derek and a short note from Barry.
Treneere, 13th August 1999
"I expect Barry will fill you in on the events of 11th August when he gets back. To say the least, the weather was cruel. Tuesday was hot, dry and sunny. Thursday was a lovely day too. Wednesday wasn't. We were all so disappointed, Barry especially so.
Even so, the experience of the darkness during totality and the strange stillness which preceeded it will, I think stay with us all. We did get a couple of tantalising glimpses through breaks in the cloud of the partial phase about 10 minutes before and after. We saw the orange glow in the distance from the edge of shadow.
The attached pictures, which I have reduced to cut down on download time, tell their own story. Barry tells me you went to France to view the eclipse. I hope you had a better view than we did.
Best wishes
Derek"
c/o Green Witch, 25th August 1999
"Is a non-event totally a non-event?
Since childhood, three score years ago, I had awaited The Total Eclipse of 11.8.99. At 'Treneere', Penwarne, near Mawnan Smith, inland from Falmouth, Barbara and I were entertained by Derek and Lynne Smith. We waited in the garden complete with ETX and Solar Hood, binoculars, compasses and anticipation.
Tantalising glimpses before second contact and after third contact were seen and photographed by Barbara through the dramatic clouds which changed both shape and direction during Totality.
The oncoming sunlight was seen under and beyond the cloud cover. Barbara caught this and the darkness in the garden on film. She even caught the raindrops in her camera flash! The Smiths treated us to champagne after this memorable event.
D Barry Richards
Scope House Observatory"
