Plaque saluting Thomas author unveiled in Box (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Plaque saluting Thomas author unveiled in Box

4:37pm Friday 17th August 2012 in Corsham By Craig Jones

A plaque to commemorate the life and works of the Rev Wilbert Awdry, creator of Thomas the Tank Engine, has been unveiled in Box.
The tribute has been placed at Lorne House, previously known as Journey’s End, where the writer used to live, near the iconic Box Tunnel which was the inspiration for the books featuring the famous blue steam engine.
Mr Awdry, who was born in 1911 and died in 1997, lived in the Box house, now a B&B, with family from 1920 to 1928.
On Saturday Mr Awdry’s children, including son Christopher and daughters Veronica and Hilary, attended the ceremony with guests.
Mike Ralli, who runs Lorne House with his wife Fran, said: “It was a very lovely day. We had about 50 people come down to the ceremony to hear the speeches by his children.”