Storeys of Old.

It was not until September 12th that Sir Thomas was actually Knighted by the Queen at Balmoral. On that occasion Sir Thomas showed the Lancaster medal to the late Sir Henry Ponsonby, the Queen's Private Secretary, who in return brought it before the notice of the Queen. Her Majesty was so pleased that she asked permission to retain it. Sir Thomas would fain have given it a better setting than a velvet-lined case, and asked to be allowed to do so, but the Queen preferred to have it as it was. In return her Majesty presented the new Knight with a photograph of herself bearing her own signature.

Sir Thomas unsuccessfully contested North Lancashire as a Liberal in 1880, and the Lancaster Division as a Liberal Unionist in 1892, when he was defeated by 680 votes. On the 7th April, 1870, he qualified as a County Magistrate, and was made a Deputy-Lieutenant in February, 1893, and High Sheriff of the County in 1893-4.

In the course of his useful and honourable career, Sir Thomas served his town and generation in many other ways. He was elected a Port Commissioner in 1863, a Director of the Lancaster Banking Company in 1867, a Trustee of the Lancaster Charities in 1870, and Chairman of the Board in 1895. He was also associated with the Royal Albert Asylum for Imbeciles at Lancaster from its foundation, and in 1897-8 added the "Storey Home for Feeble-minded Girls" at a cost of from £4,000 to £5,000. He was also one of the Trustees of the Ripley Hospital, President of the Royal Lancaster Dispensary in 1887-8, and gave the sum of £2,000 to the Building Fund of the new Infirmary. Later on he contributed £5,000 to wipe off the debt on the building. He was also a Governor of the Royal Lancaster Grammar School, to which he and his brother William as early as 1875 had made a gift of £1,000 to found the "Storey Scholarship."

Sir Thomas was a most generous supporter of numerous other local charities, such as the Ladies' Nursing Society and the Nurses' Home Scheme, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home. Every New Year's Day he gave a treat to the "Old Folks" in Lancaster, entertaining from 700 to 1,100 persons. This treat is still carried on by his eldest son, Mr. Herbert Lushington Storey.

But the most splendid gift made by Sir Thomas Storey to the town of Lancaster and his most permanent memorial is the "Storey Institute," presented to the town during the last year of his Mayoralty, Jubilee year, 1887, at a cost of about £30,000, to which his eldest son, Mr. H. L. Storey has recently added an extension at a cost of £10,000. A full account of the Institute, which is used as a Public Free Library, Reading Room and Art Gallery, as well as a centre of technical instruction, and for disseminating useful knowledge generally, is given elsewhere.

At the close of the first year of Mr. Storey's Mayoralty some of his friends and fellow townsmen presented him and Mrs. Storey with a handsome silver épergne to commemorate in accordance with an ancient custom the birth of a son, Mr. Charles Blades Coverdale Storey, on 2nd April, 1868, during the Mayoralty, also "in testimony of their respect for his personal character and public services." After the Parliamentary contest in 1880 his supporters gave him his portrait, painted by Mr. James Archer, at a cost of 300 guineas.