On Sunday 1st July the LOCS Joseph Thomas Day arrived and the official opening took place. Weather wise it was an "iffy" day and it did mean some rescheduling of the events. However all in all, the day was highly successful and we hope that not only invitees but also many Looe residents who joined us, enjoyed their participation in our celebrations.
The following is a very brief story of the day together with photos, all taken by a LOCS member, Marilyn Kirby, unless otherwise stated.
At 10.30am with the help of the local Community Officers guiding the traffic, Sir John Trelawny was invited by LOCS President John Enever to unveil the plaque at the entrance to the Hannafore Road opposite St Nicholas Church.
This photo was taken by Sir Michael Buckley
The following photo shows the President John Enever together with our Mayor, Ron Overd and Sir John Trelawny, just after the first plaque unveiling.
This photo is of the secretary, Peter King, having a chat to the police...or were the police having a chat to him?
We then all moved over to the Banjo Pier, either in the two buses kindly provided by the Looe Lions and the Looe Community School, or following the St Piran Flag, carried religiously by Bob Shearman all day.
The plaque on the Banjo was unveiled by Jeanne Dingle, our Recorder, along with Goerge Vaughan Ellis of Liskeard OCS, both of whom have researched the career of Joseph Thomas. (Right photo taken by Sir Michael Buckley)
Then with a little rain coming down and already running about half an hour before time (which has to be a first!) we moved to The Old Vicarage House where Joseph Thomas lived and worked during his last few years. He died here in 1901. The plaque on the wall of Vicarage House was opened by his direct relative, Lady Judy Buckley.
Then even more ahead of time and with an eye on the weather we all moved to the East Looe Quay side where the Cornish Granite Education and Viewing Point was opened.
This was opened by our President John Enever.
It was also a good time to have a photo call for all members, invitees and residents who were with us, including Alan Baker a past member and piper who kindly came from Liskeard to help enhance our day.
Then with the sun again shinning members made good use of the day by having a look in the Museum at the Joseph Thomas exhibition.
Here is Lady Judy Buckley in the Museum holding a photo
of her relative Joseph Thomas (the same photo that has been incised upon the Granite Viewing Point). Judy's research has been from a family angle, and is ongoing. (We shall be posting on this web in the near future an outline of Judy's research). Behind her is the Museum Curator, Barbara Birchwood-Harper.
(Photo taken by Sir Michael Buckley)
At 1.00pm we all gathered upstairs in the RNLI building where an excellent buffet was put on for us by Looe's Sarah's Pasty. A magnificent affair enjoyed by all. There were a few more speaches here namely by the mayor and Adrian Tinneswood who represented our sponsors: The Local Heritage Initative and Lottery Fund. Obviously without their support the whole project would not have taken place.
Also during the buffet lunch the models made by Duloe Primary School (model of the Rail and the Coombe Junction connection to Liskeard) and the Looe Primary School (Model of the Banjo Pier) were on display. The following are a few photos of the construction of these models. They can be found on display in the local Library at the Mill Pool Car park for another two weeks from Tuesday 3rd July.
Two posies were also presented by the two daughters of Sarah Lee, Katie and Jessica. Sarah Lee had driven the model making and the strong educational connection between LOCS and the local schools and we are very grateful to her.
The above is Jeanne Dingle receiving her posie from Katie Lee.
Finally we all moved to the Looe Station where the final plaque was unveiled by Lee Edworthy of First Great Western.
We finish this short story of a great day for LOCS and also for Looe with some close up photos of the Cornish Granite Education and Viewing Point.
If any members have other photos which they might like us to consider placing on the web site then please send them to LOCS secretary,
Peter King.
Thankyou one and all for joining us on 1st July 2007.