Nice photo too
Hello DH106
ATC problems were a constant threat those many years ago - so I reckon you were caught up it one.
Having all the passengers on board and the baggage locked in the holds meant that the aircraft was ready almost immediately to take any slot that happened to come up. This could happen if somebody else, even on another island eg PMI, could not make his slot because of lost baggage, or pax, or tech snag.
Note Bryn copped another delay down in Alicante the next day!
The Comet did not have any of its own AIR CON on the ground, unlike modern machines with their own APU which can drive a cold air unit to supply cooling ram air.
The Comet "trick" was to open all the doors, and indeed 'pop' the overwing emergency, exits to get some/any through draft.
I'll pass on your message.
Cheers
TG