8 - Sunday, September 25, 1988 - Lyan Valley Echo WALTER DRAYCOTT Statue honors LV pioneer SINCE IT was unveiled at Pioneer Park on Nov. 11, 1986, the bronze statue of Lynn Valley pioneer Walter Draycott has become an increasingly well-loved focus of the busy traffic intersection that borders the park. The placement of the statue at the corner of Lynn Valley Road and Mountain Highway is the culmination of Draycott’s rich and varied life in Lynn Valley, which began in 1911. That was the year he visited an Irish friend on the North Shore following a trip across Canada. Instead of returning to England as planned, he was persuaded to buy three lots in Lynn Valley for $200 each, “At least he said I had bought three lots, but 1 couldn’: find them,” Draycott said in a 1979 in- terview with the North Shore News. “They were so far back in the bush | couldn't get to them."’ Undaunted, Draycou cleared trees from his property, some over nine feel in diameter, and built his home by hand — he didn‘t use ox- en, the way some others did at the time, he said. “When you are youne,’* he said in the interview, ‘‘you are not ex- actly foolish, but you see things in a different fight. When 7 think now of making a home out of this bush...."" During his many years in Lynn Valley, Draycott formed six school museums and directed the Scouts and Cubs, a geology club, a rifle club, an explorer’s club in which By PEGGY TRENDELL-WHITTAKER Echo Reporwr children combed the hills for museum specimens, and a debating club. He was also a botanist, local ex- plorer, stamp collector, author of a book on the history of Lynn Valicy and a gencologist who had traced his family tree back to 950 A.D. When Draycott died in 1983 at the age of 102, he was known by many as The Father of Lynn Valley. It was three years later that the district. planner called Bill Mac- Donald, art coordinator of the North Vancouver District School Board, with the idea of creating a pioncer’s sculpture to be placed in the Pioneer Park planned for the Lynn Vatley/Mountain Highway intersection. MacDonald suggested Draycott as one obvious choice, and pro- cured then 19-year-old North Shore artist Kevin Head to do the sculpture. ‘*He’s probably one of the most talented art students we've had in See Artwork Page 9 LYNN VALLEY pioneer Walter Draycott is shown in 1983, shortly before his 100th birthday. He holds a picture of himself taken in World War One. photo Terry Peters NorCu Insurance Services Ltd. FEATURE Personalized Quiroplan Service PLUS FINANCING * Repayable in 3 or 6 monthly installments . ¢ From $200 up to $1000 e Subject to approval e Personal Autoplan Coverages * Competitive interest rate © Minimum down payment & administration fee required NorCu Tnsurance Services Lia. a division of North Shore Community Credit Union Two locations to serve you 101 - 1112 Lonsdaie 101 - 1247 Ross Rd. N. Vancouver N. Vancouver 986-4321 986-0352 SrPACE-AGE. Therapy Center— #220-1940 Lonsdale Ave., North Van. Make your Appointment Now! 983-2046