“Very strong, beautiful, and full of life” was just one of the comments added to the ballot paper by a resident voting for the winning design in the ballot to choose 'the people's favourite' from the two finalist submissions put forward as the proposed miners statue for the St Just and Pendeen area. Members of the local community have chosen Colin Caffell’s submission as the most popular after it received 71% of the votes cast in two public voting sessions held at Pendeen and St Just during July 2009. Many residents commented on the very high standard of the two final designs, making it a very difficult choice between Colin’s entry, and that submitted by Tom Leaper.

Residents registering and casting their votes

at the Royal British Legion Public voting session

Bernard Rees, Chair of the St Just & District Trust who is leading the campaign was quick to pay compliments to both the finalists:-

“Both Colin Caffell and Tom Leaper submitted entries of an incredibly high standard, and I’m sure that either design would have made an excellent final statue. However the Trust wanted to ensure that the local community chose their favourite, and Colin’s design has emerged as the most popular. My heartfelt thanks go to both Colin and Tom for taking part in this process with such enthusiasm and professionalism, and to all the other sculptors who submitted designs in the earlier stages of our campaign.

Fundraising for the statue is continuing with a series of lively events and activities planned for the coming months. Please check our events pages for details.

Sketch in wax and granite

Out of respect for the former miners of this district it is my hope to offer an image that members of the community can take to their hearts as their own. Having spent a night-shift down Levant during the early 1970’s, I have a profound memory of it being cramped, dangerous and extremely hot. So I think it essential to portray the quality of the men within that context.

Tin miners came in all sizes but we all remember them as powerfully built with faces set hard like the rock on which they toiled on a daily basis.

The helmet lamp tells us this is a modern miner but I have portrayed him wielding a pick-hammer because it is the tool that unites all tin miners through the ages.

We get a sense of the confined space from his eye set on the rock he is about to tackle The plinth, made of two sizeable slabs of local granite, further reinforces the sense of precariousness typical of local stopes.

Use of unworked granite to set the life sized bronze figure six feet above the ground will keep costs to a minimum and offer a dramatic memorial to this unique race whose skills have spread far and wide.

For more information visit www.caffellsculpture.co.uk