The speaker was Andrew Lound whose subject was The Great Eastern, which, at the time of its launch in 1869 was the world’s largest steam ship.

It was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel who sadly died soon after its maiden voyage when it was damaged by an explosion and after repairs it was used as a passenger liner between Great Britain and America. Later it was converted to a cable-laying ship and laid the first transatlantic telegraph cable in 1866. It finished its life as a floating music hall, being owned by Lewis’ departmental store in Liverpool.