OUR BANNER

The LOCS Banner is double sided.  The images are painted onto the cloth. It was made about 1932, and as such is a valuable item of the LOCS. The two sides show the East and West Looe town crests. The East Looe side depicts the boy Jesus in a single masted boat with his uncle Joseph of Aramathea. Legend has it that Jesus stayed on Looe Island whilst his uncle traded ashore.  The West Looe side depicts an archer mariner.

Our banner has now been laid up!  Although the society was established in 1927 We don't know the actual date that our banner was made (although we guess at 1932), and by whom, has not been found in our records, even though we have searched past records with diligence and enthusiasm.

However the old banner has been replicated by Terry Best from St Austel.  He has done a magnificent job and we now have a brand new banner, gleaming but identical to the old one. It is waterproof too, so no more worries about getting the banner wet.   The old banner made of cloth was showing wear and tear, and its value was being damaged by use.

During the Gorsedd on Looe's Barbican Sports Field the new banner was carried by Bob Shearman and during the brief but heavy shower he was able to put the banner behind him, over his shoulders and the rain simply ran off and he emerged minutes later quite dry. It proved itself! Go to the Gorsedd web page to see  photos of the new banner.

Here is the old banner now hanging in St Nicholas Church. The West Looe shield shows an armoured fisherman with bow and mace, whilst the East Looe side (below) shows a 14th century ship, single masted with two castles and the two human figures on board representing the boy Jesus and his uncle, Joseph of Arimathea, arriving at Looe. Legend has it that the boy Jesus was left on Looe Island whilst Joseph came ashore to trade.