Round-the-world sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston performed one of the most unusual duties of his career on Wednesday when he unveiled a life-sized statue of a seal! No ordinary seal, Nelson was a favourite character in Looe until his death in 2003 and is now immortalised in bronze on the rocks opposite East Looe Quay, below Hannafore Road. The statue was created by Liskeard sculptor Suzie Marsh and the project was the idea of Penny Spreckley, both of who were among the guests for the midday ceremony during which Nelson was blessed by the Rev Brian McQuillen, Rector of St Martins. After the ceremony, which included a helicopter flyby, Sir Robin presented awards to children from local primary schools who took part in a competition to design the front cover of an information booklet about seals and environmental issues, published as part of the Nelson project by the Looe Development Trust. The overall winner of the contest was Tabitha Beresford from Trenode School.
