TO mark its 75th anniversary Launceston Old Cornwall Society recently brought its latest project to fruition, the dedication of a special plaque at St Thomas the Apostle Church.

Society president Rob Tremain gave a short address briefly outlining the project — to mark the last resting place as far as is known of those executed in the town between 1200 and 1821 who were buried in unmarked graves in the churchyard at St Thomas the Apostle at riverside.

At the time those persons were interred in roughly dug pits and left there with no official record of their names, sex or even their exact spot of burial. A suitably inscribed slate plaque made by David Gynn was unveiled and dedicated by the Rt Rev Hugh Nelson Bishop of St Germans on October 31.

Among those present were the Rev Alison Hardy, the Mayor and Mayoress of Launceston, Cllr and Mrs Leighton Penhale, deputy Mayor Cllr Helen Bailey and county president of the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies Karin Easton. Also present were representatives of St Thomas the Apostle Church community and Launceston Old Cornwall Society members and friends.

The Bishop in his remarks said that these people now had a fitting plaque to their memory, he then unveiled and dedicated the memorial. The Mayor expressed his thanks to the Old Cornwall Society for all their work in researching this largely unknown part of Launceston’s history and recording it for future generations.

Ms Easton congratulated Launceston Old Cornwall Society on their 75th year since its inaugural meeting in May 1946 and Mr Tremain and the society members for gathering up the fragments for and recording this part of Launceston’s history.

Bringing the proceedings to its end society chairman John Ellacott thanked Bishop Nelson, Rev Hardy, the Mayor and Mayoress and all for attending the ceremony.

Cream tea and biscuits was organised by Mr and Mrs Andrew Fuge and society members in the church hall.