The Lovelock of Cliff Cottage
If you’re passing by Cliff Cottage, perched above New Grimsby Harbour, you may notice a glint in the sunshine. On taking a closer look, you'll find a padlock – certainly an unusual item rarely spotted on Tresco’s safe shores. But this is no ordinary padlock… This is Derek’s Lovelock – and his daughter Amie takes up the story.
My Dad, Derek’s childhood was spent living in Cliff Cottage on Tresco with his with his elder brother Barry and his parents Doreen and Kenneth, who worked at Tresco Abbey.
Dad often recalls long days of sunshine, the freedom of playing with his brother, the idyllic Abbey Gardens, and messing around on the beach that the house still sits upon at New Grimsby Quay. So many memories - his brother and himself playing out on Plumb Island and chasing the tide back as their Mum called them in for their tea. The daily walk up to their old School (the now slightly more modernised Tresco & Bryher Primary).
Sadly, their lives were forced to change when Dad's father, Kenneth, became gravely ill with cancer, forcing the family to return to Cornwall to be near the hospital. Kenneth was just 44 when he died, but Doreen found the strength to raise her children well and lived to the great old age of 95, passing away in 2021. They now rest together at Mylor Bridge Churchyard in Cornwall.
Dad has spoken for years of his wish to show his own children the beautiful life he had in Tresco. Finally, not just his children but also Dad's grandchildren were lucky enough to share this emotional return with him recently.
We revisited all his old haunts and listened to his stories. The sun shone, and the sea sparkled. We walked the paths he trod all those years ago as he showed us where he played – and where he got in trouble!
We were all touched by the beauty of this special island where his family grew together. Dad has always felt that there is part of him still at Tresco.
We put our heads together and decided it would be a lovely idea if, when we visited, Dad could leave something there as a physical reminder - in case he wasn't ever able to return. Of course, it had to be something in keeping with the island's ethos, discreet, with minimal impact on the environment. And so, we decided on the Lovelock.
On one side, the lock is decorated with a depiction of Cliff Cottage, and the other side has a painting of Dad's brother, Barry, in his Oyster boat 'Dolly'.
Barry grew up here with Derek before their younger siblings came along. Sadly, Barry is now in a care home and so wasn't well enough to make the journey with us. We felt it was fitting that he shared a space on Derek's Lovelock.
We presented Dad the lock, just outside Cliff Cottage, for him to place in its forever home. He locked it into place, and the key has been discarded. It was perfect – just as Tresco is.
We hope that Derek's little lock won't inhibit or offend anyone, but more so, that it will make people smile if they come across it quietly sitting there, holding tight to all these special memories.
