Posted by: Karl McFaul in Øresund, picture, photos, industry, europe, ess, denmark, Copenhagen, conference, colin carlile on
Feb 23, 2010
The ESS Industry Day took place at the Royal Library in Copenhagen, Denmark on the 19th of February 2010. More than 400 representatives from European business and industry took part and gained information about how to get involved in the construction of the ESS (Photos by Wojciech Zajac and Johan Långberg).
Thursday, on my way to Berlin. I was being checked through the gate at Copenhagen airport by a rather nice-looking dark-haired young lady. My eye was caught by her name-badge. “Carina Gaugin”, it read ! Could it be, I wondered… ? No, surely. Only one way to find out. “Are you related to the great man” said I ? She blushed (was I the first one to notice and ask this question.) “Yes !”, she said with a big beaming smile, which repaid handsomely my curiosity, “he was my great-grandfather.” “He married a Danish woman, you know” she continued, “I’ve been to see his grave twice.” She became so animated. I felt somehow elevated by this encounter, and life was suddenly that bit lighter. Not for her the naming of some exotic perfume, or using her famous name in some spurious way. She had chosen a genuine use of her talents; part of the team which would get me, and others, to Berlin; part of the team, unwittingly, which would contribute to bringing the ESS to Lund. Teamwork values all members of the team whether they are called Smith or Gaugin, whether they are heavy hitters or they have a lighter touch. Everyone can make a difference.
And Copenhagen airport was confirmed with me once again as so people-friendly; look out for a painter’s great-grand-daughter next time you pass through. But remember, I’ve already asked her the question…
