We were once again fortunate to have the opportunity to experience a Magic Lantern Show presented by Andrew Gill.  Using an authentic wood and brass lantern Andrew entertains and educates his audiences with his collection of Victorian glass lantern slides.

Originally the light source in lanterns was limelight and we were glad to hear that Andrew had not brought along gas bottles full of oxygen and hydrogen to the Church Hall. So with the modern magic of electric lighting we settled down to enjoy the show.

Andrew explained that the set of slides he had brought along had been specifically designed to educate audiences, not to entertain them. The subject could have been very dry but Andrew had brought along a transcript of quotes from people who had actually worked in the wool industry and this, along with his lively repartee brought everything to life.

Starting with an Australian sheep being shorn (using a pneumatic shearer) we followed the fleece as it was transported by boat to a Bradford woollen mill.  Here the fleece was washed, graded, dyed and dried. Slides of the machinery built for each stage of the process were shown along with the workers’ descriptions of the grim conditions in which they were forced to work.

We learnt that once the woollen cloth had been produced it was then exported around the world.  Some probably even ended up back in Australia!