124
English, he offered to act as interpreter so that his companions could follow
my explanations.
The tour ended in the workshops, where, because it was such a large area
(half empty at the time), all the guests could be gathered together. Today it is
crammed with machinery and its capacity has had to be expanded threefold.
There, the Nobel laureates, authorities, distinguished scientists, and others
met all the staff of the IAC, which then numbered less than a hundred. To
conclude the visit, the monarchs and heads of state posed for a ‘family photo’
with just the IAC staff.
After the inauguration of the Central Headquarters of the IAC in La
Laguna, there was a gala feast in Puerto de la Cruz, offered by the King and
Queen of Spain to the personalities who had attended, and to which every
member of the IAC was invited. It was a glamorous event, which Canarian
‘high society’ scrambled to attend. It was amusing to see habitually untidy
astrophysicists donning smoking jackets and workshop staff not in their customary overalls. But most amusing was the sight of my secretary, Campbell
Warden, at the entrance to the emblematic Hotel Taoro, making an obeisance
to each sovereign that arrived. Carried away by the occasion, he later
Fig. 13.2 The author receiving the medal of Commander in Chief of the Order of Civil
Merit from King Juan Carlos I during the inauguration of the IAC in La Laguna.
(Credit: IAC)
F. Sánchez
English, he offered to act as interpreter so that his companions could follow
my explanations.
The tour ended in the workshops, where, because it was such a large area
(half empty at the time), all the guests could be gathered together. Today it is
crammed with machinery and its capacity has had to be expanded threefold.
There, the Nobel laureates, authorities, distinguished scientists, and others
met all the staff of the IAC, which then numbered less than a hundred. To
conclude the visit, the monarchs and heads of state posed for a ‘family photo’
with just the IAC staff.
After the inauguration of the Central Headquarters of the IAC in La
Laguna, there was a gala feast in Puerto de la Cruz, offered by the King and
Queen of Spain to the personalities who had attended, and to which every
member of the IAC was invited. It was a glamorous event, which Canarian
‘high society’ scrambled to attend. It was amusing to see habitually untidy
astrophysicists donning smoking jackets and workshop staff not in their customary overalls. But most amusing was the sight of my secretary, Campbell
Warden, at the entrance to the emblematic Hotel Taoro, making an obeisance
to each sovereign that arrived. Carried away by the occasion, he later
Fig. 13.2 The author receiving the medal of Commander in Chief of the Order of Civil
Merit from King Juan Carlos I during the inauguration of the IAC in La Laguna.
(Credit: IAC)
F. Sánchez