CAMELFORD Town Council is looking ahead to late Cllr Philip Lessels’ memorial bench unveiling event, hoping to mark the town with his legacy of being an enthusiastic, spirited man.

At the meeting of the town council on Tuesday, July 18, councillors noted that the event, unveiling a memorial bench in Philip’s honour, will take place on Friday, August 11, to be followed by a celebratory buffet lunch at the Old Bank.

The unveiling and lunch will be paid for out of the town council’s events budget, and will invite special guests to the event, including Philip’s wife and children, Diane Taylor and Keith Gwatkin — members of the Now and Then museum in Camelford — and as many town councillors as possible.

Philip was at the heart of the community in Camelford.

As well as being a town councillor, he was chairman of the Camelford Old Cornwall Society, chairman and founder of the Camelford History and Archive Trust, and was the backbone of setting up Camelford’s museum, Now and Then, which exhibits a variety of historical exhibitions and also plays host to a tourist information centre.

Philip was also headteacher of Otterham Primary School, and a school governor at Camelford Primary School.

At the start of the year, Philip was selected as one of the town’s honorary citizens, for all the work he had done for Camelford.