I vividly remember when I was just seven years old, my father taking me to a demonstration, which was held at the Drill Hall in Swansea, belonging to the Territorial Army.

Posters displayed all over Swansea had emblazoned in large black letters - "THE IRON MAN" - "he walks, he sits, and he obeys commans." Remember, this was in the 1930s, long before robots, computers, or space travel was ever thought of.

Crowds flocked to the demonstration at the hall, my father I remember sat on the end of the row near the centre aisle with myself at his side.

In front was a raised platform with closed curtains arousing much curiosity, and an excited buzz of conversation filled the hall.
Suddenly there was silence as the curtains opened slowly, followed by 'Ahhh...'
I clung close to my father, as right in centre stage was a great metal chair and sitting upon it was the huge figure of a man made of gleaming black iron.

In his square-shaped head were small slits for eyes, which were lit and seemed to flicker; there was no nose but a larger slit for a mouth. Where his ears should have been were, what I now understand antennae, his great arms were jointed at the shoulder and elbow, his large heavy torso had a small door in the centre of his chest.

His legs were jointed at the hips and knees, and he wore great black iron boots. A truly terrifying sight!

The inventor of the machine came on stage saying that he was a professor and inventor and would now give a demonstration as to what the iron man could do.

The professor spoke into a large microphone and said,
"Stand up!"

There was no response, and then he explained that it was only when he used a certain phrase that the iron man would respond. The professor then said,
"I command you to stand."
Immediately the great bulk creaked and stood a full seven feet or more. Again there were "Ahhh's..." from the audience.

The professor then gave several more commands, interspersing them with false ones to demonstrate. The iron man lifted each of his arms in turn, and each knee bent to the commands.

Then - and this is what I remember most of all - the inventor commanded him to walk; there was a ramp leading from the stage into the centre aisle where we sat!

As the great figure moved slowly and ponderously toward us, with his eyes flickering like two bright candles, each step resounding on the wooden floor I buried my face in my father's coat afraid to look! Soon the command came to "Turn" and "Walk" ; the giant man returned to the stage and after the command to "Sit", was switched off by the professor.

I must have been very frightened despite assurances from my father, as I have never forgotten this happening.

Clare Wojciechowski