Speaker Isobel Clifford, 'Tallinn - Tunnels, Towers & Technology'

On her return from a recent week-long trip to Tallinn, capital of Estonia on the north east coast of the Baltic Sea, Past President Isobel Clifford related the intricate history of the city’s towers, tunnels and technology – and, surprisingly, cakes. But more of the cakes later…

Tallinn, with a population of about 500,000 – more than half of the country’s total population – has a convoluted and chequered past, which Isobel did a fine job of explaining.

A major trading hub since the 14^th century, a World Heritage site and in 2011 the European Capital of Culture, Tallinn and Estonia were not always so privileged.

Since mediaeval times, Estonia has been invaded and owned by the Danes, Swedes and in 1710 by Peter the Great and the Russians.

Following the Russian revolution, Estonia won independence in 1918. However, that lasted only till 1939/40 when the Soviets re-occupied, and then from 1941 till 1945 by Nazi Germany. Yet again the Soviets staked their Estonian claim in 1945 and that situation remained until what was termed “The Singing Revolution” of 1988/89, when 2 million Estonians and neighbouring Latvians held hands and sung for a 600 kilometre protest. Independence was regained in 1991 and Estonia joined the EU in 2004.

Isobel provided a colourful pictorial representation of the towers for which Tallinn is famous. The city is enclosed by a 6 kilometre wall fortification and 26 of its original towers stand to this day.

Construction of the many tunnels which run below Tallinn began in 1670, funded by Sweden as places of safety. A factor which was utilised in 1944 when the bulk of the population sheltered in them from Soviet aerial bombardments.

The Russian subsequently improved the tunnel system as nuclear shelters, but they were used by homeless citizens for some time after independence.

On the subject of technology, the audience were fascinated to learn Estonia is the most internet dependent country on the planet, prompted by the new and young government after independence. All schools were connected online by 1998, while computer programming and coding studies are as much part of the current school curriculum as languages or science subjects.

Estonia is now regarded as a world technology leader, largely as a result of its development of Skype and other hugely valuable computer resources.

Now to the cakes….

Isobel displayed photographs of a large array of the cakes to which Estonians are more than a bit partial.

Followed by an amusing shot of a Tallinn cake shop’s exterior display board. In Estonian and with an English translation, this read “SKINNY PEOPLE ARE EASIER TO KIDNAP. STAY SAFE – EAT CAKE!”

In his vote of thanks, Fraser Booth noted how informative and well-prepared had been Isobel’s presentation.