Centenary
11th February 2010 marked the centenary of Tom Rolt's birth (see a full chronology of LTC Rolt's life and works).Events
To celebrate a century of Tom’s legacy, a whole host of events are planned to take place along the canals and elsewhere in England and Wales over the course of the year.Birthday celebrations
The 11th February birthday was celebrated at the Talyllyn Railway, with the launch of an exhibition about Tom’s life and work in the museum at Wharf Station, Tywyn. (The exhibition stays open for the whole year.) People from the preservation world gathered from far and wide for this event. It was opened with speeches by Richard Hope OBE, the Talyllyn Preservation Society's President, and Tom’s widow, Sonia Rolt. Guests were then invited to travel on a special commemorative train - The Rolt Centenarian - which was hauled by No 4 Edward Thomas (an engine built by Kerr Stuart of Stoke on Trent, the engineering works where Tom had been apprenticed in 1926.)
Other Centenary celebrations
Other celebratory events over the year include:
- 24th April 2010, Oxfordshire - the narrow boat 'Heron' will set off from Banbury on a voyage retracing Tom's historic 'Cressy' journey. The boat will arrives in Chester in June, and finish in August at Beale Park (see below). The outgoing route can be seen marked in red on the map, and the return route in green.
- 28th/29th August 2010, Berkshire - narrow boat 'Heron' will complete the home leg of her journey retracing Tom's historic 'Cressy' journey, finishing at Beale Park on the Thames at the IWA (Inland Waterways Association) National Festival boat rally. The rally is being held this year in honour of Tom Rolt.
14th-16th May 2010, Wales - there will be a special train on Talyllyn Founders’ Day, 14th May. After this event there will be a 'Tom Rolt Centenary' gathering of vintage cars on 15th/16th May.
26th-27th June 2010, Chester - The Chester IWA are hosting a centenary rally on 26/27th June, bringing together canal boats, vintage cars and the possible appearance of the Tom Rolt locomotive from the Talyllyn Railway. The weekend will also include the unveiling of a plaque on the house in Chester where Tom was born.
7th-8th August 2010, Gloucestershire - The August Prescott VSCC (Vintage Sports Car Club) meeting will host a ceremony to name one of the corners on the course after Tom.
8th September 2010, Oxfordshire - Oxfordshire IWA members Gillian and Peter Bolt will deliver a talk at Kidlington Sports Hall on Tom’s Irish canal journey and the legacy of his book, Green & Silver, for the Irish canal movement.
