In Loving Memory of Albert Lorens

In Loving Memory of Albert Lorens

4th October 1921 – 2nd January 2023

Many will remember with great fondness Albert Lorens, who sadly passed away in early January at the age of 101. Albert had been a valued volunteer at Porthcurno since the early days of the museum and was always happy maintaining our working machinery. In October 2021, we were delighted to be able to host his centenary birthday here at PK with family and friends.  

Albert had an extraordinary life, having joined the Eastern Telegraph Company at the age of 14 and working mainly in the Middle East. In the 1960s, he was stationed in Porthcurno, where he met and married Wendy James from Newlyn and had three children.

Albert’s funeral took place at Penwith Woodland Burial, Chyenal on Friday 20th January, followed by a reception at PK Porthcurno. 

ALBERT

Albert
An international man,
Languages drank in,
Dancing on his tongue.

An adventurer,
A fez wearing,
Explosion avoiding,
Motorbike rider,
The dust of deserts,
Continents,
Countries,
Danced beneath his wheels.

Bike fixer,
Clock mender,
Tender of broken things.

Father, grandfather, cooker of delicacies.

Gentle.

A cable man.
Sending arteries of words under the oceans.

An international man,
A hundred and one stories lived and loved.

“Albert” – Poem by Annamaria Murphy

A selection of some of the items donated by Albert Lorens to the PK Porthcurno Collectoion

  • Vertical needle galvanometer used on inland telegraphy circuits, manufactured by H.W.Sullivan, London.
  • Photocopies of postcards sent from Porthcurno showing the Eastern Telegraph Company buildings dated 1921.
  • Brass drawer handle engraved ‘ETC’ from the staff quarters at the telegraph station in Gibraltar.
  • Brass clock from the Head Office in Gibraltar inscribed ‘The Eastern Telegraph Co. Ltd’, acquired during a refurbishment of the Gibraltar Head Offices around 1969.
  • Scanned copy of a mess bill given to Albert Lorens following a stay at the Porthcurno Engineering School in 1960.
  • Original copy of the Exiles Club ‘Valley Varieties Six’ programme dated 6th December 1961.
  • A large collection of ‘Zodiac’ magazines.
  • Printed invitation to visit the cableship ‘’Edward Wilshaw’ given to Mr and Mrs A. Lorens.
  • Invitation sent to Albert Lorens inviting him to become a member of the Eastern and Associated Telegraph Companies Retired Officers’ Society (EROS)

Donations can be made in Albert’s memory to Alzheimer Research UK via www.alfredsmithfunerals.co.uk

In Loving Memory of Albert Lorens
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