Date: Friday 27th March
Time: 7pm-8pm
Place: Gairloch Museum | Hybrid on Zoom
Age: 14+
Cost: In person 5 | Online 4
Booking is advised for this event.
Botulism first emerged in the UK at the Loch Maree Hotel in August 1922 in a party of distinguished, predominantly Scottish guests and their ghillies. Baffling symptoms of an intense descending flaccid paralysis led to eight fatalities in a shocking event that remains the countrys worst ever outbreak of botulism.
The immediate cause was identified as a processed food product contaminated before leaving its London manufacturer. The Loch Maree Hotel, made famous by Queen Victorias celebrated visit, emerged from the Fatal Accident Inquiry in Dingwall completely exonerated of any responsibility, the testimony only enhancing its already high reputation.
This talk will briefly describe the tides of history and twists of fate that brought the worlds deadliest toxin to Loch Maree. The compelling stories of the people involved will be described alongside the timeline of the outbreak, its progression, investigation and impact on food safety in Scotland.
Bob Hall
Bob Hall is a retired microbiologist originally from Edinburgh: an Aberdeen graduate with research and teaching experience in the UK and USA on infectious diseases, food safety, and vaccines.
What to expect:
Join us in person at the museum or online via Zoom.
Talks normally last approx 45mins followed by a Q&A session.
Teas & coffees will be served at the end of the event.
The Zoom recording will be shared after the event.
Accessibility:
Please share with us on booking if you have any accessibility requirements you would like us to know about.
Our accessibility guide can be found on our website under the Visit tab.