NEWSLETTER Spring 2017 Editor – Douglas Barr-Hamilton

London drinks and Peel Unreasonably late in the day a decision was made (largely by Douglas and Maron) to try to revive a get together for society members in the days leading up to Christmas and, believing the Island was going to be a haven for several mainland Manxies, we tried to set up gatherings in London and on the Island.

In Peel, Mavis and Dave Bell kindly threw open their house for Society members on the Island. Only Terence and Chrissie Brack made Peveril Road almost entirely the result of the short notice but the neighbours had been invited too so they all enjoyed a jolly morning.

It seems rather fewer London members made the Island in 2016 and those who did will almost certainly have experienced transport delays, of which there were too many. There was a slightly larger attendance in London itself although just five is still small but it was, nevertheless, an enjoyable occasion with something of the old Bonnington atmosphere in the modern ambiance of the Doubletree by Hilton in Southampton Row.

David Hill made the long journey from Petersfield and kept the conversation flowing including his reminiscences of times with his grandfather in Port St Mary. He left a little before the rest, having decided to make the most of a day in town with a visit to an exhibition at the nearby British Museum and then a long evening at the Royal Opera House to see Manon. Bryan and Sheila Corrin came north from Beckenham and participated fully as the conversation ranged from the Island during WW2, through his lecturing career to the news that the family: they with all their children and grand-children have found a house to rent for a 2017 holiday on the north-west edge of Onchan - not the governor's! Your secretary and his wife Margarita came south from Enfield and made their contribution to the afternoon. There was one sad note: Maron Honeyborne, co- sponsor of the event, had tripped on a paving stone the previous day and tumbled, breaking her right arm in three places. It's now on the mend. Though numbers at both events were tiny, feed-back was encouraging and we plan to organise the gatherings again this year - but give notice of the dates much earlier: in September. DBH

Obituary Allan Clague Allan collapsed suddenly at his home in Kent on 29th December 2016, age 89, and sadly died after he was unable to respond to attempts to resuscitate him. His wife June (née Corlett) was at his side. June and Allan were both members of the London Manx Society and always looked forward to attending the annual dinner in London and getting together with their friends from the society on outings and excursions, Allan's service as treasurer from 1995 to 2001 being much appreciated. Allan was the only child of Ellen and George (Chief Engineer on IOM Steam Packet) and grew up in Westminster Drive Douglas, attending Douglas High School for Boys. From 1943-45 he was an articled pupil at Kay & Gill Architects, Athol Street, Douglas where he started studying with the College of Estate Management towards his Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) exams. He enlisted for National Service with the Royal Engineers as a Pioneer Student in 1945, the war ending whilst Allan was still in training. Initially a sapper, he was never involved in any direct conflict. His main posting was in Kenya where roads and bridges needed to be rebuilt following the war. Returning to the UK he demobilized out as a Staff Sergeant from the Royal Engineers HQ in Chatham in 1948, remaining for a number of years on the ‘Reserve List’. In later years Allan’s career took him back to Kent and he finally retired in the Chatham area and would frequent the local Royal Engineer’s Museum and barracks, having also joined the Chatham Historical Society. Following National Service Allan returned to his RICS studies as General Assistant to W.C. Gill (partner at Kay and Gill) and after passing his RICS Intermediate exams was offered the position of Junior Architectural Assistant in the Borough Surveyor’s Dept, Shrewsbury Borough Council. During this period he returned to the island for his marriage in 1951 to June Corlett at St George’s Church, Douglas. The couple lived briefly in Shrewsbury whilst Allan completed his final RICS exams before later that year accepting a position with Lichfield City Council in Staffordshire. By 1958 he was Deputy City Surveyor and Architectural Assistant and had embarked on further studies in Highway Design and Road Construction with the International Correspondence School which led to him becoming a Professional Associate of the Institute of Municipal Engineers (later integrated into the Institute of Civil Engineers). Another move in 1958 to Kent took Allan to the position of Senior Engineering Assistant with Crayford District Council (later absorbed as part of Bexley Borough Council in 1965 during the creation of the GLC) where in the 1960s he was responsible for the design and construction of new council houses and flats. Following the introduction of the GLC and the reorganisation of local government Allan was employed as Group Engineer in the newly formed Bexley Borough Highways and Engineering Department based in Sidcup (from where he later retired as Principal Engineer for the London Borough of Bexley). The mid-1960s were the start of the boom years of motorway construction and Allan’s combined experience and qualifications in surveying and civil engineering, together with skills learnt in Kenya with the Royal Engineers, were brought to the fore on one of his biggest projects – the upgrade to motorway standard of the existing A2 along its route through the borough, creating the A2(M). During this period local government was also responsible for the supply of water, sewers and street lighting. These all fell under the management of the Highways and Engineering Department and Allan’s responsibilities included being on call in the event of flash floods – sadly an event which happened more than once in the village of Bexley which is low lying surrounded by hillside and intersected by the river Cray. Needless to say his stock of appropriate equipment, heavy duty gloves and hardened stomach made him the popular “go-to” man for blocked sewage drains amongst immediate neighbours!! By now June and Allan had three children and the family were settled in their home in Dartford where he and June remained until his retirement in 1985. Throughout these years June and Allan continued to return to the to meet up with their family and friends who had remained there. Annual holidays with their children were peppered with picnics, visiting old haunts and gathering a fresh sprig of heather from the moorland to fix to the grill of the car! After retirement June and Allan decided to move to Walderslade, Chatham and they embarked on a variety of new hobbies. The couple continued to play Bridge and to go to dinner-dances. Allan did a gliding course, joined the local bowls club and Probus where he later took the office of Chairman. They enjoyed holidays abroad, lunch groups, daily excursions and were now grandparents. Throughout his married life Allan was an enthusiastic “DIY-man” and utilised many of his professional skills in maintaining both his own home and in offering welcome advice to family and friends. Allan was not so much a gardener as a garden tidier but he would spend many an hour pottering around in his shed which was full of organised tins and boxes of all sorts of things he might need for DIY. He was no stranger to home computing having taken an interest since the early days of home micro-computers and enjoyed gaming, set up a Facebook account and was happy managing his affairs online. He also spent time researching his family history and worked with other family members to trace his Clague/Taubman line back through over 500 years of living on the island. His cheery smile and the twinkle in his eye when he pulled someone’s leg or cracked a joke will be sadly missed. Linda Green

AGM This year, our AGM will be held on 27th March and will take place after a Society visit to the Cutty Sark in Greenwich. We plan to meet at the Cutty Sark at 11 a m, self tour until around noon and then meet in The Spanish Galleon (48 Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich, Greater London, SE10 9BL) between noon and 12.30 for lunch, ready to start AGM at 2 p m. If we can muster twenty people for the Cutty Sark, we can consider a guide at a cost £5 each. Please, therefore, let the secretary know on 020 8360 8001 if you are going to attend so we can book the guide in advance. A great way to travel is by river to Greenwich. From Westminster, London Eye, London Bridge or Tower piers; the cost is around £6.50 each way using Oyster or contactless Debit/Credit card (slightly more if you buy a ticket at offices). About 25 minutes from London Bridge Pier to Greenwich - run every 20 minutes. Details are available on www thamesclippers com There are a couple of train options as well. The restaurant, the Spanish Galleon is an interesting building too, designed and built by Joseph Kay in 1834, it survived two world wars and the blitz with little damage.

The Entire Universe Like mother, like daughter. A few years ago, can it really be four, we watched one of our members, Melodie Waddingham (née Kelly) performing Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Three Little Maids from School” in Quartet, a film set in a home for retired musicians. Maron Honeyborne’s husband Jack, a renowned jazz musician, also appeared. Now, last Christmas, we tuned in to Boxing Day evening TV to see her daughter, Hannah, take on an interesting challenge performing with the likes of Eric Idle, Noel Fielding, Arlene Philips, astronaut Tim Peake and Warwick Davis as they supported Professor Brian Cox in a comedy-science musical entitled The Entire Universe. Hannah was born in London and was introduced to performing through her mother and maternal grandparents who were all opera singers. She has made her name in Spamalot, Into The Woods and The Wizard Of Oz. Her TV roles have included Doctors, My Family, Miss Marple, Benidorm and Game of Thrones. She has also appeared in the movie of Les Misérables. The Entire Universe, an interesting mix of music, comedy and science, was based on the notion that Professor Brian Cox thinks he has been hired to deliver a lecture on Rutland Weekend TV, a previous Eric Idle construct, only to discover that he is fronting an all-singing, all-dancing musical talk. The aim was for Cox to explain the multi-billion year history of the universe in about an hour, covering the Big Bang, expansion, the space-time continuum, fundamental particles, gravitational fields and more, with each burst of information subsequently ‘explained’ in comedy sketches and songs with his double act partners. One of those is Hannah as a tall, long-legged, femme fatale conveying the concept of time through song, among several other appearances throughout the show. Unhelpful interjections are made as Brian Cox attempts to deliver real science to the audience. ‘Actually, that’s not quite right,’ becomes Professor Cox’s catchphrase as he tries time and again to undo the misinformation coined for a catchy song. Whatever one thought of the individual song and dance routines, it was hard not to be caught up by the spirit of the show. Even if some of the science passed you by, Brian Cox succeeded in conveying the scale and majesty of the universe by the communicative power of comedy. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea (mixed reviews, I suspect), but it was a good educational programme as you’d expect from Brian Cox and there were an awful lot of facts about the universe imparted over the hour. And, knowing her connections to the London Manx Society, I watched it through, waiting for Hannah’s next appearance on the show, which has put another notable notch on her belt, alongside her previous stage and TV achievements. Sam Weller

Horse-trams on BBC TV There is a direct link between Douglas horse trams and the Society because they were built by the great grandfather of Society member Ruth Kirkby, Thomas Lightfoot who had retired from Sheffield and brought over his rather large family to settle in Douglas. On Sunday 26th February the Trams were featured on television in Countryfile, a programme that visits parts of the British Isles and reports on the stories, characters and traditions that make them distinctive. It attracts an audience of seven million or more. The Countryfile team spent two days on the Island and briefly covered the old days with visits to and Tholt-e-Will before a visit to the horse-trams. going to Summerhill Stables to meet the tram horses as well as enjoying a ride on tramcar No.18, a double-decker built in 1883. The publicity promised us that some very exciting news from the tramway would be announced during the episode so, given the concerns about the continuation of the facility, it was disappointing that no such information was given. The team also visited Glen Mills which has recently produced the first batch of its new rye flour, the first non-wheat flour to be milled in over 150 years, a project supported by the Department for Environment, Food and Agriculture, looking in at Noa Bakehouse in Fort Street, Douglas to interview owner, Miles Pettit who buys the flour. After a time in films and helping out in the E5 Bakehouse at London Fields station, Miles returned to the Island in 2015 to open this café. It interviewed 11 year old Tom Keig from Ramsey who, last year, won the world Bonnag Baking Championships and, finally, the team went to the Home of Rest for Old Horses. All this means that millions of viewers saw the diversity of our island, its beautiful scenery and how special a place it is. DBH Source: web site

Candle-lit Concert Boosts Funds for Knockaloe Project A local charity, challenged with the task of establishing a new project in the village of Patrick, recently held a special candle-lit musical evening to help raise funds for their vision regarding the World War I internment camp previously based at Knockaloe Moar Farm. Holy Trinity Church, at the heart of the village's community, became the venue for a concert of music performed by the local, early music group Hartes Ease, who delighted everyone with a range of songs and tunes. The programme of music reflected the many international links with the camp, which included almost twenty four thousand so-called 'enemy aliens' inside twenty three compounds, which were guarded by four thousand soldiers. The concert was intersected by English, Dutch and Manx compositions, with members of the audience enjoying glasses of gluhwein and bite-sized confectionery associated with some of the internees' countries of origin. The charity's aims are to re-tell the multitude of human stories connected to the camp, which became an important part of the Island's history, but was almost entirely stripped bare upon the cessation of what was known as the Great War. It's a long term project which will encompass other matters such as village life, and provide descendants with assistance as they attempt to seek details about either internees, guards, or villagers. The old school rooms, situated opposite the entrance to Knockaloe Moar Farm, have been ear-marked as the focal point for this project. Built in 1877, but relinquished as an educational facility during the mid 1980s, the building is, however, still utilised for a variety of community activities. A great deal of information has already been collected, but organisers would be delighted to hear from anyone who can add to their database. Although this information is currently offline, it is possible to request a search on a one-to-one basis, but may take some time to process. Members of the project can be contacted at info@knockaloe im Alternatively, you can view some of their current work at www knockaloe im, or read about their activities on their Facebook page. Valerie Caine © January 2017 (Courtesy of the North Western Chronicle)

Amazing discovery at Covent Garden No, nothing to do with archaeology but more souvenirs of the Isle of Man in a most unexpected place. Yet it wasn't the first. during the last few years, several members of my family, including I myself, have found reminders of our Island in Camden Passage (London), Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, and even on the islands of Cyprus and Malta. The most recent was my son's seeing (and buying) three enamelled plaques featuring famous TT riders: old adverts for the races. Surprisingly, Manx memorabilia are truly ubiquitous. Maisie Sell Manx stone moved Exactly a year ago we published an article about a renowned Manxman, William Kennish, buried in an unmarked plot in New York and efforts to place a stone of Manx granite on the grave to provide a permanent testimony to his life. Robert W Stimpson and Roy Moore successfully joined forces, as trustees, to raise funds for the memorial to one of the Island's most prolific inventors leading a new appeal for funds and the Society has now donated the £100 it then promised.

William Kennish Manninagh Dooie, True Manxman

In the past few weeks the £5,000 required has been raised using many appeals including lectures in Peel's Sailors' Shelter, in Ramsey's St Paul's Church Hall lounge and in Douglas. As a result, on 11th January, with Matthew Gregson of Manx Memorials in Peel supervising the lift, the selected rough stone was removed from Dhoon Quarry (less than half a mile north of the glen and about two miles from Kennish's birthplace), and placed on a pallet before being taken to Mezeron shipping, who occupy buildings now over the location where William worked before 1822 at Ramsey harbour. for shipment over to a quarry near Belfast for rough cutting. This was necessary because there is no suitable saw big enough in the Isle of Man to carve up this very tough aggressive granite we have supporting our island! It was then returned to Manx Memorials for the inscription William Kennish was born at Cornaa in 1799 and, although he modestly described himself as illiterate, was later rapidly promoted within the Royal Navy. The son of a farmer, Kennish spoke only Manx Gaelic when he left the Island, but this didn't hold him back. As a self-educated engineer, Kennish didn't lack imagination, producing a number of new ideas which included the Marine Theodolite, part of the first gun commander system in 1828 and an ambitious plan to provide a Harbour of Refuge at the Calf of Man. He returned to the Island in 1844 with his family, briefly spending time in Castle Debtors’ Gaol, before presenting a 3,000 signature petition in London to improve the harbours on behalf of Manx fishermen. He later headed for the USA to further his career. However, Kennish’s most outstanding achievement is, perhaps, reflected in his work to locate a route for what is now the Panama Canal. Undertaking seven complex surveys across hazardous territory, Kennish remains the only person to have successfully found a canal route without locks across the isthmus and, although un- adopted, his plan has been re-examined. Kennish died of pneumonia in 1862 but the complications of typhus prevented his burial for seven years and, although eventually laid to rest in New York, he lies in an unmarked grave in Green Wood Cemetery. But not unmarked for much longer: following shipment of the headstone to New York, a brief dedication ceremony will take place on the one hundred and fifty-fifth anniversary of William Kennish's death on the 19 March, 2017 and joining Bob Stimpson and Roy Moore at the ceremony will be Hon Steve Rodan, President of , along with other members of the wider Kennish Family. If you are in the USA and able to attend, do let the trust know through the web site, www.william-kennish.com DBH Information provided by Robert W Stimpson, Chairman, The William Kennish Memorial Trust.

Manx Dialect Play Attracts Full House at Annual Oie'll Verree The annual Oie'll Verree held in Michael village on old Christmas Eve is a perfect opportunity to enjoy a Manx traditional, country concert; with a packed house indicative of its continuing success. Tucked away in the old Ebenezer Hall, this much anticipated event was organised by the local branch of the Celtic Congress in latter years, but the baton has now been passed on to the Michael Heritage Trust. Today it's a pot-pourri of acts and entertainment, adjusted a little from the original concept, which historically focused on the singing of lengthy carvals (Manx compositions typically based on Bible tracts) once the church service was finished. The event has an uncanny ability of attracting younger performers as well as some of the more mature stalwarts, which bodes well for its future. Compèred by the (youthful) Zoë Cannell, the first four acts reflected this successfully with a wide range of entertainment, with junior Manx dance group Skeddan Jiarg, a dialect recitation by John Kaighin, up-and-coming music group Scran and magician Lexi Watterson. Followed by the current Manx Bard, John 'Dog' Callister, a keen audience was treated to a Manx dialect sketch by J. Cooil, entitled The Choir Practice, before the young Field brothers introduced music on a classical theme. But after the presentation of the annual Yn Gligyr award by Michael Commissioners for service to culture in the local community, an expectant crowd settled back to watch the main event - the much anticipated Manx dialect play. The Michael Players have a rich collection of original plays to choose from, including The Charm, re-enacted here and written by Christopher Shimmin in 1912. It's a favourite which has been aired a number of times over the years, but never loses its popularity. And with a number of actors deciding to hang up their bonnets and flat caps for the final time, after many years of devoted service, it was re-assuring to see that the plays had successfully attracted some younger performers. Valerie Caine © January 2017 (Courtesy of the North Western Chronicle)

Visiting New Zealand? We have a specific invitation to members visiting the North Island of New Zealand from the Robin Bryant of the Manx Society of Auckland who would love to meet and chat and catch up with Manx gossip. If that is you, please email [email protected]. Going elsewhere in the world and I know some societies will extend a similar invitation, probably most, so wherever you are travelling in the world do check with me to see if I can make the introduction. DBH

Remembering With the approaching centenary of the death of Manx pioneer Sophia Morrison, it's a good time to evaluate her achievements and review her remarkable legacy. Born in Peel during 1859, Sophia had many siblings and was the daughter of well- respected, local grocer, merchant and fishing fleet owner Charles Morrison and his wife Louisa née Crellin. Sophia was gifted in music and language by her teenage years she was well read in European literature, possessed a working knowledge of Italian, Spanish, Irish, Scots Gaelic and was fluent in French. Although she grew up in an English-speaking household, Sophia soon became a fluent speaker of Manx Gaelic, due, in part, to regular contact with native speakers. Despite her shy disposition, Sophia possessed a natural flair for communication, particularly in written form, but also initiated Manx language classes with friends, and became a founder member and secretary of Yn Ҫheshaght Ghailckagh (The Manx Language Society) as well as the founder and editor of its journal, . Committed to the collection and promotion of Manx culture, Sophia also took on the roles of honorary secretary of The Guild, vice president of the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society and masterminded the T. E. Brown Day across Island schools. Immersing herself in what was clearly a passionate undertaking, Sophia went on to become actively involved with the growing pan-Celtic movement, was consulted on the question of Manx national dress and inspired others undertaking similar work to herself. Respected by many for her vocation and influenced greatly by her friendship with the German folklorist Charles (Carl) Roeder, she remained in contact with a number of well-known antiquarians and became an important figure in the development of Anglo-Manx dialect and theatre, most notably with the Peel Players, who raised a lot of money for the Manx Language Society through performances of plays written by Christopher Shimmin and (aka Cushag). Sophia became a prolific writer upon a number of local topics, although she is largely remembered these days for her iconic publication Manx Fairy Tales, with a later edition illustrated by Archibald Knox. More recently, the book has been translated into Manx Gaelic. One of her final tasks, however, focused her attention upon collecting material for an Anglo-Manx dictionary, instigated by the celebrated historian A. W. Moore, but subsequently completed by Edmund Goodwin and Sophia, although not published until 1924. Ill health dominated Sophia's final years and she died of cancer on the 14 January, 1917. Crowds attended her funeral at Peel Cemetery, where members of the Peel Players bore her coffin to the family grave. Back in her home town, a magnificent, inscribed memorial bookcase was presented by her family in 1934, and subsequently housed alongside a bas relief portrait in the Sophia Morrison Reference Room (built in 1952 with financial assistance from the Carnegie Trust) in the Ward Library. A number of events have been organised jointly by and the local branch of the Celtic Congress to commemorate this centenary on the 14 January, 2017, including a wreath-laying ceremony at her graveside at 1.30pm, followed by a talk about Sophia's life at 2.30pm by Dr Breesha Maddrell at the Guild Room (opposite the Centenary Centre), Atholl Street, Peel - admission free. At 7.30pm there will be a Manx concert at the Centenary Centre continuing the theme of Sophia Morrison, including poems written by Cushag (a close friend), supporting musical acts and a performance of the Manx dialect play The Charm, written by Christopher Shimmin and performed by the Michael Players, but initially performed at this venue by the Peel Players in 1912. Tickets priced at £5 available from Celtic Gold and Shakti Man, or reserved at [email protected] 's exhibition entitled Sophia Morrison: The First Curator will reveal more about her life story and runs at the Manx Museum until 6 May, 2017. Valerie Caine © January 2017 (Courtesy of Manx Tails)

The Gathering Cruinnaght Vanninagh Ashoonagh (Manx national gathering). was founded in 1924 by , the first director of the Manx Museum and Honorary Treasurer of both Yn Çheshaght Ghailckagh (The Manx Gaelic Society) and the World Manx Association (WMA). In due course it inspired Yn Chruinnaght, the annual event the Island now adores. Early festival programmes state that the movement's aim was to preserve national sentiment and the "great national poet", T E Brown. William Cubbon continued to organise the festival for many years using to promote it the WMS magazine, "Ellan Vannin" which he edited and it took the form of a one-day, competitive event held at Hollantide (halloween), with participants from the Island. There were various sub- committees whose members included Archibald Knox, J J Kneen and and the programme incorporated singing (including in the Manx Gaelic language), music (with a grand concert as the finale), arts, crafts and cookery. Sadly, the outbreak of the Second World War brought the festival to an end. The Island enjoyed a cultural revival from the late 1960s and Mona Douglas, one of the leading figures in Manx traditional cultural affairs, led a revival of interest in the Manx language, in traditional music and particularly in Manx dancing. She saw the need for a focus for cultural activities and a way to give greater recognition to Manx traditional culture, particularly in a wider inter-Celtic context. So it was that in 1977, she organised Feailley Vanninagh Rhumsaa (the “Ramsey Manx Festival”) in collaboration with the organization Ellynyn ny Gael (Arts of the ). It lasted one day but had the courage to announce that the following year, again in Ramsey, there would be a five-day Inter-Celtic festival. The would be working together to restore their heritage. Immediately it became "Yn Chruinnaght". The six of the Isle of Man, Brittany, Ireland, , Wales and Cornwall would all participate. Events were held throughout the Island as part of Yn Chruinnaght but the main focus from 1978 to 2006 was the town of Ramsey, originally because it had no important festival of its own but also because of its venues and facilities, including a variety of hotels and the Town Hall, various churches and even the livestock mart. As many of these venues and facilities ceased to be available, a marquee became a feature of the festival. Then, with the usual plot for a marquee no longer available in 2007, Yn Chruinnaght had to move. The Centenary Centre in Peel had always maintained a link with Yn Chruinnaght, the change was made and now the Centenary Centre and Peel are the base for the event. Yn Chruinnaght is having a bit of revamp this year and the event will be called 'Yn Chruinnaght Presents Celtfest Isle of Man'. The dates will be 10th to 15th July and its sponsors are Culture Vannin, Isle of Man Arts Council, Isle of Man Steam Packet Company and Conister Bank. There will be a new web site: www.celtfest.im. DBH

Bronze Age burial reveals its long held secret Archaeologists studying Neolithic and Early Bronze Age human remains in the Manx Museum collection for the ‘Round Mounds of the Isle of Man’ project have made an exciting discovery. Contained within a box of cremated bones excavated in 1947, osteologist Dr Michelle Gamble, discovered a collection of small bone objects that had not been noticed by the excavators. The bones had been buried almost 4000 years ago at Staarvey Farm in what is now German parish, Isle of Man. The site was excavated by Basil Megaw (1913-2002) who was director of the Manx Museum (1945-1957). Mr Megaw had been contacted by the farmer who had hit a large stone during ploughing. Excavations revealed a stone-built cist (a box made out of stone slabs) containing fragments of burnt bone, two flint tools, and two Collared Urns (Bronze Age pots) buried upside-down. But it is only now that the bones have been studied in detail. Dr Gamble said: “there was a large quantity of cremated bone from this site. The first step of the osteological analysis is to clean and sort the bones, so that we can determine the number of individuals present and any age or sex information. Within this burial, we have four skeletons, very fragmented and mixed together – 2 adults, one of which is a male, an adolescent, and an infant. The bone objects were burned as well and mixed in with the cremated human remains.” Dr Chris Fowler, co-director of the Round Mounds of the Isle of Man project, said: “I opened my email to find a photograph of an extremely rare Bronze Age object – a bone pommel from a bronze knife. This would have been fitted to the very end of the hilt. There are only about 40 surviving knife and dagger pommels of this period from the British Isles, and none have been found on the Isle of Man before – so I was very excited! The size and shape suggest it was once attached to a small knife which archaeologists call a ‘knife-dagger’. Knife-daggers have been found buried with both males and females. Several other bone objects were found amongst the cremated bone. One is a burnt bone point or pin. A recent study of such objects found that few showed evidence of wear on the tip, suggesting that these were not tools, so it will be interesting to examine the end point of this example closely to see if there is evidence of use wear. It is perforated at the other end so may have been attached to clothing or a head covering. Some of the other objects may be burnt bone beads, and there are four enigmatic worked bone strips which we are still working to understand. The objects may have been worn by one or more of the dead as they were placed on the funeral pyre, or may have been placed by the dead on the pyre by mourners. It is possible that there were multiple episodes of burial in the cist, but we do not know how many of the individuals were buried at the same time and with which objects or how many cremation events took place. The burial itself is fairly unusual among contemporary burials we know of from across Britain and Ireland. It is rare to find cremated remains buried in both a Collared Urn and cist – it was typically one or the other. There are records of about 50 similar burials of cremated remains discovered in a cist and containing a Collared Urn across Ireland, Scotland, northern England, and particularly Wales, and we are comparing the Staarvey burial with these at the moment.” Allison Fox, Curator: Archaeology, Manx National Heritage, said: “The reassessment of finds from earlier excavations is always worthwhile. The finds can be the only parts of the original monuments that survive and although not every artefact was looked at in great detail at the time, they were catalogued and preserved. Modern scientific techniques can now give a lot more information about these finds, but so can the low-tech approach of a skilled pair of eyes examining the finds in detail.” Round mounds are found through the British Isles and in Continental Europe. In the British Isles the earliest round mounds appeared in the Neolithic period, after c. 3800 BC. More were built periodically over the next 2500 years or so. The current project aims to investigate what these sites and their associated burials, people and artefacts can tell us about life on the Isle of Man and interaction with other communities across Britain, Ireland and potentially beyond. It includes analysis of the landscape location of the mounds, geophysical survey at several sites, and re-analysis of both previously excavated remains and records of previously destroyed or excavated sites. The project, which began in September, is directed by Dr Rachel Crellin (University of Leicester) and Dr Chris Fowler (Newcastle University) and has received funding and support from Culture Vannin and Manx National Heritage. Culture Vannin funded the examination of the human remains and are also supporting a series of workshops for school children that will be delivered by Michelle and Rachel in 2017 across the island. For more information about the project visit https://roundmoundswordpress com Lynsey Clague Heritage Communications Manager, Manx National Heritage

LED Lighthouses I read that the lighthouses at Douglas Head and Maughold Head are to be fitted with LED lights to increase their range although, during the work temporary lights are being installed that will reduce it. However, when the work is completed in Douglas in mid March its range will be increased to 18 miles and Maughold's, when finished at the end of March, to 15 miles. In both cases they will give out a much whiter light. The historic Fresnel lens at Maughold will be decommissioned but wrapped in a protective cladding to preserve it. DBH

On the Wireless Ninety years ago, from 7.15 p.m. to 8.30 on Wednesday 18th May 1927 a London Manx Society concert was broadcast to the nation. According to the Isle of Man Examiner the week before, the programme comprised: William Lay, of Douglas and Castletown: "The Li'l Islan'" introduction and short talk, London Manx Choir, conductor Mr Walter McHarrie: Manx National Anthem Folk song, "The Sheep under the Snow" Miss Ada Mylchreest (contralto): "Mylecharane" (in Manx) "The Ploughman's Song" "The Battle of Santwat" Miss Millie Quinney (Mrs W S Rosee): Extract from Betsy Lee Mr Walter McHarrie (baritone): "A Manx Wedding" "Heroes All! Row lowly Shoreward" (folk song) Miss Norah Moore (soprano): "Hush Little Darling" "The Fuchsia Tree" (old Manx ballad) "The Maid of Port-y-Shee" (folk song) The London Manx Choir: Manx Fishermen's Evening Hymn "Ellan Vannin" DBH

Manx Prisoners of War The following photo clipping shows the extent to which the Manx spirit will go to maintain unity in adverse conditions. The inner strength and determination of these men allowed them to survive such situations and come home to their loved ones. It is assumed that it was World War II these men were in. The newspaper clipping is undated. Perhaps some family member could confirm this.

Meg Turville-Heitz, of Cambridge, WI, USA, who owns the clipping writes: "The above photo-clipping from the Isle of Man EXAMINER was sent by ‘Aunt Alice QUALTROUGH’ who I believe was Alice Mylchreest who married William John Qualtrough . In see chart 23 of A QUOTA OF QUALTROUGHS, her notes read ‘My son, Harry’ (Harry would be William Harry Q born 1905 who married Florence Harrison) for the man on the right of the photo. The ‘X’ beneath the photo says ‘Conibear is a friend of mine. He has been repatriated and is now in the Isle of Man." Another article, from MONA’S HERALD July 24th, 1945, reads in part: ‘Manx Society in German Prison Camp—Story told to me at the WMA (World Manx Assn) Tynwald Gathering –The fascinating story of a Manx Society which flourished in a prisoner of war camp in the heart of Germany for more than two and a half years, was told to the annual Tynwald Day Gathering of the World Manx Association, at Douglas, by Bombardier Arnold Forrester one of the founder members of this unique Society, which bore the name of THE TYNWALD CLUB. It was formed in 1942 by twenty Manxmen in Stalag 383 situated at the foot of the Bavarian Alps only 33 miles from Nuremburg. Company Sgt. Major Harry Qualtrough was elected President, Sgt. Curwen Clague, Secretary, and Sgt. J Manderson Treasurer. Most of the members belonged to the 129th Battery of the Manx Regiment, but Sgt Major Qualtrough was Senior W.O. of the Durham Light Infantry. Although he had not seen his home in St. John’s for some years and had spent most of his life abroad, he was, said Bombdr Forrester "as Manx as any of us, and by his splendid example and sympathetic understanding did much for our morale in those dark days. He got us our hut and from then on Wednesday night was Tynwald Night. "In that hut in the evenings we would draw the curtain across the window, which looked out across the muddy wastes, the tumbled down huts, the high barbed wire fence, the look-out towers and the searchlights. We would shut out the present and dwell awhile on the past, returning in our thoughts to our loved ones at home." News from home was of paramount interest. A letter to one, if it contained news of people and events, was a letter to all. Cigarettes were the currency of the camp and with them one could buy almost anything from a shirt to an accordion. Each member paid two cigarettes a week to the treasurer and so created a fund which enabled them to have an occasional light meal in the true "Manx tay" traditions and supply any of their members in hospital with extra cigarettes. Sometimes an Australian, a New Zealander or a Palestinian would give them a lecture on their home country and in return Sgt Norman Cowley would be invited to give a talk on the Isle of Man. On two occasions his audiences numbered over 1000 men. In addition, he spoke at every Club in camp, representing almost every district in Britain. There were over 7000 men in Stalag 383 and by the time Sgt Cowley had finished with the whole camp, it was "Isle of Man conscious." It continues, "There was tremendous enthusiasm when it was learned that Company Sgt. Major Qualtrough was present and he was given a rousing welcome when he mounted the platform. He spoke of his happy experiences in meeting Manxmen in many parts of the world during his career in the Army," Submitted by Meg Turville-Heitz, Cambridge, WI. USA (January 2001) Courtesy of North American Manx Association

100 years on On 25th January crosses were placed to commemorate the death exactly a century before of two Ramsey seamen, John Christian and Samuel Crellin, who lost their lives while serving aboard HMS Laurentic, a White Star liner converted into an armed merchant cruiser for the Great War which sank after leaving Liverpool for Canada and striking two mines off the Irish coast with the loss of 354 lives, nearly all from exposure, the lifeboats giving no protection from the blizzard that was blowing. Five members of the Crellin family died. DBH Source: IOMtoday

Letter from Southern Africa Dear Manx friends It gives me great pleasure to introduce our first South African Newsletter for 2017*. Helen Joughin has very graciously agreed to compile the newsletter for our Association. Thank you so much Helen for taking the time to compile this special letter. I am sure that Helen would value your inputs and comments. She can be reached by email at: helenjoughin1 @ gmail com The Isle of Man had a strong mining community in the 1880s, both in tin and lead mines, but as the ore-bodies in these mines became exhausted the miners emigrated, many of them to South Africa. The Transvaal Manx Association was formed by these emigrant miners in 1896 and although it has always been small compared to the other Celtic associations, it has continued since then as a very sociable, Patriotic gathering with strong ties to its island of origin. I do hope that you will enjoy reading the newsletter, especially taking time to practise the Manx phrases that Helen has included and to try creating the "Fairy Bridge 'Oysters'", the recipe that Margaret Redman has selected for inclusion. As you will also see, Helen has included an article on the history of South African Manx families who are members of our Association. Please do contact Helen with further information concerning your own family ties to the island. For those of our members who might not have a direct link to Ellan Vannin, it would also be good to hear of your own interest in things Manx, whether it be relatives who have moved to the island or perhaps even an interest in the uniqueness of this special place in the Irish Sea. This comes to you all with my very best wishes. Kevin Williams Reiltagh *copy available by email from Douglas Barr-Hamilton

Women at Manx funerals Regarding letters to the Editor from David Kirby, whose wife remembered no women attending funerals: I can remember when I was very young . waiting in a large room with aunts from my mother's side of the family waiting for the men of the family to return from a funeral. then they all sat down to a meal. I took it that only men went to funerals. The date could have been 1940 in Douglas with the funeral at Braddan Cemetery. Maureen Wigley.

The report in the Ramsey Courier in October 1938 of the memorial service to the crew of the Ben Seyr, lost in the Irish Sea earlier in the month, mentions that apart from a few foreign seamen, only women went into St Paul's Church for the service. No clue as to the significance of the fact and perhaps the tradition did not extend to memorial services. DBH

The London Manx AGM 2002 There was bunloaf and bonnag, cheese and cake, All kinds of everything for us to partake, Salmon paté with cucumber, Fruit scones without number, Sandwiches, salads and kippers galore, Mulled wine and fruit cup - who could ask for more?

From the rooms and the kitchen we spilled out in the hall, Charming host and hostess beaming oe'r all, Then a sit in the lounge to listen at leisure To a Manx dialect tape which gave us much pleasure. Had a raffle, of course, and came the last call, We then ambled along to the local church hall.

So delightful to stroll on this lovely spring day To our AGM to have our say, And in early evening when the business was done, We slowly walked back in the last of the sun. To Terence and Christine and all helpers too, Many thanks for another memorable 'do'. Maisie Sell

Tom Dodd My wife's uncle, a Manx scholar, was a great walker. Born in the 1880s and very tall, he would think nothing of walking from Douglas to Dalby with his dog for an evening's entertainment and I thought your readers would love to read some of the Manx population's carryings on in the long past. He used to spend many of his social hour telling stories to small or large gatherings. This was a Manx form of entertainment in the countryside before radio. The stories in "The Worthies*" are taken from his notes on his experience of life and the people he met. He started work in the IOM Bank in Douglas and eventually became manager of the branch in Peel, known locally in Peel as IOM Bank Ltd., “Ltd “ being “Long Tom Dodd” until he retired before the Second World War. Forsyth, his assistant told a tale of Tom Dodd who would like to go ‘walk about’ in Michael Street. Tom got himself a sheet or two of paper in his hand to look important and off he would set (more than likely landing up in the back room of Ernie Woods, the tobacconist with all the other knowledgeables) Unfortunately an officious supervisor from Douglas branch came to check on them and cover ups were always difficult. Tom Dodd was a great believer in the Manx language so would go to a lot of trouble getting the older generations excited in conversation so that they would burst into Manx. Very concerned that the Manx language was not being taught in Island schools, much of his life’s work was dedicated to this loss. He lived in the time of T E Brown and could recite the whole of the poet’s works from memory and often did to the younger generation of his family. I can still hear his voice as he used to recite T.E's "Betsy Lee" . There is a tape recording of his voice in the Manx Museum . The proceeds of this book* will go to the Leece Museum. It would have been Tom Dodd’s wish. Tom Durrant *One story from the book is included below as the comment on Manx dialect misuse of prepositions in the opening paragraph links with a note in the first learning Manx lesson on Culture Vannin's web site. “Yander” A great number of the prepositions are used in quite a puzzling way to the uninitiated as ‘at’, but let us pass them by to look at some of the old expressions. You don’t often nowadays hear the word ‘Yander’. A gentleman visitor walking along the prom in Douglas asked a boatman what the tower in the middle of the bay was called. The answer was ‘yander is what we’re calling the Tower of Refuge to’. A man was on a ladder in Kirk Michael making some repairs to his house. His mate came along a few minutes afterwards and shouted up to him ‘I got yander’. In this particular case yander was a bottle of whisky, a fact he did not wish to disclose to people standing round admiring the progress of the work. But the man on the ladder understood perfectly. Writing the word ladder reminds me of an incident that took place in Santon. The stationmaster there was Mr Ambrose Faragher and one day a boy came to him and said’ ‘Could you lend us the loan of a ladder. Mr Faragher? ‘ 'Yes boy, yes boy’ was the answer. ‘Is it the stepladder yor’ after? ‘ 'No master Faragher, the shammy ladder’!

Island Quiz (Open to non-members through the web site) 1.Recently discovered at Castletown's Nautical Museum is, (a) an anchor, (b) a dock gate, (c) a mizzen mast, (d) a skeleton? 2. For whom was Castle Mona originally built, (a) 4th Duke of Atholl, (b) Bishop Barrow, (c) Ewan Christian, (d) William Hillary? 3. Is Hollantide celebrated on (a) 1st April, (b) 22nd June, (c) 31st October, (d) 21st December? 4. Is the height of South Barrule (a) 477m, (b) 480m, (c) 483m, (d) 486m? 5. Which T E Brown poem starts, "I wonder if in that far isle some child is growing now, like me . . . " (a) Braddan Vicarage, (b) Christmas Rose, (c) Dora, (d) Old John?

Answers to December's Quiz 1. The number of women MHK elected this Autumn was (b) five. 2. The Manx song, "I once was a duchess of honour and fame." is about (c) The Duchess of Gloucester (c)1400-1452. 3. The writer of Manx dialect plays recently republished is (c) J J Kneen. 4. The height of Snaefell is (a) 621m. 5. The Queen's Pier in Ramsey was opened in (d) 1886.

No all-correct answer was received Closing date for £20 Manx banknote prize, 6th April 2017

Acknowledgements The Editor thanks Valerie Caine, Lynsey Clague, Tom Durrant, Linda Green, David Kirkby, Maisie Sell, Robert W Stimpson, Sam Weller, Maureen Wigley, Kevin Williams, for their kind contribution and also the North American Manx Association, Isle of Man Newspapers, Culture Vannin, Yn Cruinnaght and Manx National Heritage. News about you and articles (of around 450 words) about Island life are welcome and of interest to all. If in doubt, please contact me. Contributions can be sent at any time for inclusion in the next newsletter, if possible by email ([email protected]) or to 132 Bush Hill, N21 2BS. Copyright is retained by the contributor. Opinions expressed are those of the contributor and not necessarily those of the editor or the Society. Closing date for the next issue, 24th May.

Stop Press Do you receive the Culture Vannin Manx music and dance e-newsletter, Kiaull Manninagh Jiu? It has information on events and news which may be useful. If it is, you can be added to the list: simply email: [email protected].

An event in London that may be of interest is a concert by the Royal College of Music of music written in 1940 in the internment camps for German and Austrian nationals on the Isle of Man, starting at 5.30 pm on Sunday 2nd April at the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, 28 St John's Wood Road, NW8 7HA.

The ensemble will be going to the Isle of Man in May too.

Dates for your diary

AGM 27th March 2017 The Spanish Galleon 48 Greenwich Church Street, London, SE10 9BL at 2.00 p m. and morning visit to the Cutty Sark

Annual Lunch 6th May 2017 Doubletree by Hilton 92 Southampton Row, WC1B 4BH

NEXT NEWSLETTER DUE IN THREE MONTHS PLEASE SEND NEWS TO: Douglas Barr-Hamilton, 132 Bush Hill, London N21 2BS (telephone number 020 8360 8001) e-mail: barrhamilton@btinternet com

Visit the Society’s web site at www londonmanxsociety co uk