The Keswick Guardian Sat 30th Dec 1882 Departure Of A Keswick Character

Departure Of A Keswick Character

The Keswick Guardian - Sat 30th Dec 1882

Departure Of A Keswick Character Mr Thos Moore Edmondson, better known as "Tommy Moore," who has for many years been a notable character at the Lake Side both as a boatman and fisherman , left Keswick on Tuesday with his family to seek a new home in the rising colony of Queensland Australia. Blunt as Tommy is in his manner he has a kind heart and his straight forward ways won for him a list of friends among the visitors as well as his more immediate neighbours who recognised in him the "rough diamond".  Only last summer there was occasion for Tommy to show how he could feel for others in distress. When that poor young fellow from Egremont was drowned in the lake Tommy dragged almost incessantly until the body was found not that he had any hope of reward for the friends were but in humble circumstances but because he saw and could not help: but pity the sorrow into which they were thrown. A large crowd assembled at the railway station to witness the departure of Tommy and his family by the 4-15pm train. Among them were all his more familiar chums some of whom seemed to have had a feeling akin to that of Lord Byron when he wrote slightly altered:                            Thy boat is on the shore                          And thy bark is on the sea                          But before thou go,st Tom Moore                          Here,s a double health to thee   As soon as Tommy was comfortably seated in the train the Volunteer Band who went into the station purposely commenced to play " Should auld aquaintance be forgot," and the strain was continued as the engine steamed slowly from the platform. The scene was not without its pathetic side and a good few were affected even to tears at the parting with an old friend. Three other young fellows left Keswick by the noon train, John  Johnson, J P Wilson and a young man from Portinscale and will sail in the same ship the Earl Granville for Brisbane .