The unveiling of a sculpture of a miner in Laxey’s Heritage Garden on May 23rd has marked the culmination of the village’s regeneration scheme.
The sculpture is the work of Balinese master stone carver Ongky Wijana who created the work in Banjar Silakarang, where he lives with his Manx-born wife Hannah and two children but had travelled to the Isle of Man to perform the unveiling ceremony.
The occasion was cause for celebration, with children from Laxey Primary School wearing period costume, members of the Laxey Mines Research Group and the Ellan Vannin Pipes and Drums band parading from the refurbished Village Square to the Heritage Garden ahead of the unveiling when Ongky said: ‘I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time and I hope the sculpture is a fitting tribute to the miners of Laxey’.
Reflecting on the project, which took 10 months to complete. he explained that in keeping with Hindu tradition, he had made offerings to the sculpture throughout the process to safeguard the spirit of the work.
Spectators and guests who included His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor Mr Adam Wood, the President of Tynwald the Hon Clare Christian, Sir Lawrence and Lady New and Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK, heard the chairman of the Laxey Regeneration Committee and Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust director Steve Rodan SHK say the sculpture was ‘destined to become a landmark of truly iconic status’ and he paid tribute to its creator, saying Ongky Wijana possessed ‘a gift for craftsmanship in stone nothing short of genius.’
Mr Rodan also took the opportunity to outline the transformational work achieved through the Laxey Regeneration Scheme that had seen extensive restoration work to Laxey Station, the creation of a new Village Square and the Heritage Garden at Mines Road, a refurbished Rose Garden, new pavements and pedestrian footways. The end result was, he said, ‘Something the people of Laxey can be proud of. And with every reason to hope that all this will be the catalyst for new business activity and new life in our village.’
The sculpture was funded by Laxey resident and benefactor Phillis Tate who died in 2012 aged 97. Ivor Hankinson, who acted as her trustee and coordinated the project, thanked Ongky for ‘his wonderful work and dedication’.
The sculpture was blessed by the Rev Jo Dudley after which Mr Hankinson presented a Deed of Gift transferring ownership of the statue, plinth and commemorative plaque to Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust and Laxey Village Commissioners, represented by chairmen Mike Burgess and Andrew Moore respectively, with Mr Moore declaring that Laxey was now ‘undeniably the jewel in Mona’s crown.’
The celebrations concluded with the Lieutenant Governor unveiling a commemorative plaque on which was engraved the names of 32 miners who lost their lives in the Great Laxey Mine between 1831 and 1912. In this he was joined by Mrs Anne Bennett, the great granddaughter of Captain John Kewley who led the Great Snaefell Mine disaster rescue efforts in 1897 when 20 miners perished as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. His Excellency said: ‘I am sure you will agree that, placed next to the new statue, [the plaque] represents a further and very fitting tribute to the men and families who form so great a part of Laxey’s recent history.’
Bringing the project together has been a partnership between the private and public sector, together with community support. Among those to whom thanks are due are:
- The trustees of the late Phillis Tait;
- Ongky and Hannah Wijana;
- Steve and Sally Black;
- Isle of Man Government, in particular the Department of Economic Development and Department of Infrastructure;
- The Chief Minister’s Town and Village Regeneration Scheme;
- The Laxey Regeneration Committee;
- Laxey Village Commissioners;
- Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust;
- Manx National Heritage;
- Andrew Scarffe;
- Stonemasons Tony Bridson and Howard Kneale…and
- The Laxey community for their interest and support.
