Talk about getting egg on your face. Or rather, an eye patch. Members of a North Devon Women's Institute thought they were going to be getting a talk about piracy in terms of movies, thievery and more of the general kind of piracy you hear, not the actual Somalian kind that leaves people dead. But that's exactly what was happening, as the guest speaker was Captain Colin Darch, who was held hostage by Somali pirates for several weeks. And because they thought it was going to be a pretty boring evening, they dressed as pirates. The 'Yarrr Matey!' cartoon kind. Awkward is an understatement.
Darch wasn't too bothered though, revealing he only came there for one reason, saying 'Of course I didn’t take offence or mind. It was more like the Pirates of Penzance. I must admit I quite enjoy giving talks to groups such as WIs. I am doing quite a few of them and it is a good way to flog my book.'
The ladies certainly enjoyed it though, and even had Darch judge their best dressed competition. One member said It was a bit different to our usual prettiest tin competition or the flower or the month. At our meeting this month we are having a baby picture competition. I don’t know who was scarier for Captain Darch - us dressed up as pirates or the real Somali pirates. The talk was so interesting, Colin is great speaker. We were all quiet for an hour and half which is saying something.'