THE WELDING INSTITUTE
EASTERN COUNTIES BRANCH
Event:
Lecture
Subject:
A tour of the Islamic Republic of Iran 2005
By:
John Weston
Venue:
TWI, Granta Park, Great Abington CB21 6AL
Date:
Wednesday 18 February 2015
Report by:
J Weston, Hedges, Lodge Road, Walberswick, Suffolk IP18 6UP
Tel: 01502 722584, Email: [email protected]
In 2005 John and his wife, with fourteen New Zealanders, joined a tour
organised by Zagros Ltd and led by the founder Harry McQuillan and his wife,
Maureen. Harry had graduated from the University of Otago, NZ, holding a
PhD in geology. For some 20 years they lived in Iran where Harry mapped,
often on horse back (frequently accompanied by Maureen), the geology and
structure of the richly oil bearing Zagros mountains. For 5 years was
Associate professor of Geology at Shiraz University. This experience and their
love of Persia and its history eventually led to them guiding small parties tours
of the country.
The three week tour in October 2005 started in Tehran. John, who had also
graduated from Otago University, commenced his talk by describing the size
of Iran by comparing it to GB + Germany + France + Spain. Hence there were
large distances to be travelled which he outlined at the beginning of each
stage of the journey by referencing maps. He spoke to a series of slides which
took them first to the Caspian via the Alborz mountains with some amazing
railway systems. After a trip on the sea the journey took them back through
the mountains to a central plateau were they saw Ghanats, Caravan seri and
salt rivers and onto Qazavin, east of Tehran.
The journey then took them south to the great Mausoleum of Oljeitu, the size
of St Paul's to Hamedan, Bisotun, Isfahan, and eventually Shiras and the
ruined city of Persepolis. Throughout the journey many world heritage sites
were seen and a wide range of cultures, life styles observed and construction
and agricultural methods discussed.
The presentation concluded with a lively discussion session.
Journeying through the Zagros Mountains.