Standing on Looe beach beside some tall rocks at the waters edge, landing stage, Tom Barbers behind me.

Tom Barbers a natural rock formation, twenty foot high or more, which has natural diving platform ledges etc., and has metal ladder attached to it cemented into rock. Tide is dropping, fast getting nearer to totality of Eclipse, temperature has dropped, the wind is now a gentle breeze.

Seagulls getting restless, starting to cry out, it is getting darker second by second. The gulls from the rooftops have taken to the sky followed by others from all around, the crys of roosting time from all around Looe.

Cameras flashing everywhere, the Banjo Pier lights port and starboard, and street lights following suit, and from thirteen miles away, Eddystone Lighthouse answering back, all along the coast to Ramehead. In unison flashing everywhere, boats in the bay, and in the roads, just like Christmas has come early this year, at 11.16 am Wednesday morning.

It was a privilege to be here on this day, to witness this natural phenomenon. Now it is totality, people clapping and cheering from the beach, the balconys of hotels, cliffs and promenade and pier. The seagulls cry has reached a crescendo in the sky, some going inland to the rooftops, others going out to sea. I feel a cold shiver come all over me, I feel tense and think of Armageddon. I am feeling very emotional.

Yes, the sun came on again, as though someone had switched it on. We all take it for granted, it will always be there. The shadow came and went, there was singing and clapping all around. It was a day I had the privilege to witness, a once in a life time.

Yes, we were all happy, that day, we sang and applauded and thankfully the sun came out again. Having two sunsets in one morning, can't be bad. We are all still talking about it.

ALBERT E STEVENS.

West Looe