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NEWSLETTER Summer 2017 Editor – Douglas Barr-Hamilton AGM This year, our AGM was held on 27th March and followed a Society visit to the Cutty Sark in Greenwich. Several of us met at the clipper ship at eleven on a cool, sunny morning and wandered its decks until around noon, finding it surprisingly uncrowded giving plenty of time to discuss history and life on board with the helpful and friendly staff. We then joined other members in The Spanish Galleon in Greenwich Church Street for lunch and started the AGM at two o'clock. Present were our President Bryan Corrin and his wife Sheila, Secretary Douglas Barr- Hamilton and his wife Margarita, Treasurer Sam Weller and his wife Mary, committee members Maron Honeyborne and Alastair Kneale and members Peter and Sally Miller. Reports summarised the year's activities and confirmed that finances are sound. The usual business was conducted, Sally Miller was elected to the committee to replace Colin Gill who has decided to stand down after a long and valuable contribution to the running of the Society, and an important rule change enacted to deal with the Society's assets in the event of it winding up. The draft minutes are available for members' study on the Society's web site. DBH 1 Photographs: Sam Weller Annual Lunch Members began arriving at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Southampton Row, the traditional venue for our annual lunch well before the appointed hour of one o'clock and the thirty-two able to come had a good time catching up with gossip and exchanging news of the Island and folk they know there. The lounge gradually filled and some of the groups are pictured opposite thanks to Sam Weller. The group included Paul Allott, Douglas and Margarita Barr-Hamilton, Voirrey and Robin Carr, Stewart Christian, Bryan and Sheila Corrin, Meryl Cowley, Edna and Colin Flint, Rose Fowler, Sheila and Colin Gill, Maron Honeyborne, Alastair Kneale, Sally and Peter Miller, Ethel Qualtrough, John Qualtrough, Maisie Sell, Alan and Pam Townsend, Jim and Sue Wood, Peter Nash, Melodie and Harry Waddingham, Sam and Mary Weller, Elizabeth and Nicholas Watson. 2 We enjoyed an excellent meal starting with leek and potato soup with croutons and cream, following it with a main course of roast loin of pork with a garnish of lardons, onions, mushrooms and red wine sauce then tucking into a wonderful caramel apple crumble. Coffee and mints followed, then the toasts. After the loyal toast, past President Alastair Kneale toasted the Land of our Birth recalling the Snaefell Mine disaster (see his article in this newsletter) as well as good times on the Island. President Bryan Corrin toasted our guests and our guest of honour, Alan Townsend MBE FRCOG, replied with fascinating account of his long career most of which he spent as consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Nobles's Hospital up to his retirement in 1995 and giving an insight into the way the provision of health care has evolved both on the Island and in the United Kingdom. The usual raffle was drawn, an essential part of our proceedings as members and guests' generosity ensures the Society's finances continue sound and the top prize, generously donated by the Steam Packet company: the free carrying of a car and two passengers to and from Douglas, was won by Rose Fowler. Other prizes included a first edition Hall-Caine novel and delicious home-made truffles. Everyone seemed to get something. After the singing of Ellan Vannin everyone could move more freely and most folk were slow to drift away preferring to chat in the dining room and in the hotel lounge. Then a walk to tube and bus in a late return to city life. DBH OBITUARIES Alan Corlett I have no information about Alan and his time with the Society and was advised that he died during 2016 by email from his daughter, Jo Scott. I have been advised though that his wife was a sister of Allan Clague, another LMS member, whose death at the end of 2016 we reported in our last newsletter. We are therefore keen to express our condolences to both families at their further loss in such quick succession. Should any member be able to provide me with more detail we would wish to publish a full tribute to Alan. Margaret Brady 3 We are extremely sorry to have to let you know that Margaret died on 3rd March after suffering severe kidney failure in December. She had been an active member of the Society since joining it, serving on the committee for many years and faithfully playing the organ at the harvest thanksgiving service of our mhelliah right up to the one in 2016. Margaret Kelly was born a year before the War broke out, a younger sister to Isobel who still lives on the Island, and she grew up in Onchan, her father being one of the well-known wood-carving family, Kellys of Kirk Michael. She spent part of her primary education in Scotland and retained a slight Scottish burr in her voice all her life. Secondary education was at the Buchan School where her contemporaries as pupils included Society members Mavis Bell, Pam Fiddik and Maron Honeyborne. A gifted linguist, she had thought of studying French and German at university but, after practicing for the Karl Bohm scholarship at the Guild (Manx Music Festival) when in the Sixth Form, went to the Royal Academy of Music. On the face of it, music became Margaret's life. However, at her very well-attended funeral, organised by her friend Maureen Lomas whom many members will have met, at which the Society was represented by Douglas and Margarita Barr-Hamilton, Pam and Mike Fiddik and Sally and Peter Miller, it was clear that Jesus Christ was her life although her contribution to the work of her church was through its music. The service, planned by Margaret herself, was a modern one reflecting her faith through today's songs and the tributes of friends and family and we were able to meet them with church members at a lovely meal afterwards. Margaret will be missed. We extend our condolences to her daughter Fiona and son Paul. Fiona's eulogy spoke emotionally about her mother, "Her age is a closely guarded secret," she said, "Unfortunately for her it is now all over the order of service. She and her sister Isobel were also coy about who was the elder. They managed to keep this a secret from mum’s in-laws for a long time but in case any of you are still unsure, Margaret was younger than Isobel by two years. Isobel still lives in the Isle of Man near to where they were born in Kirk Michael." The Kelly sisters were sent to boarding school in Scotland at quite a young age but were not very happy. Margaret once described scraping frost from inside the windows. It did give her the first opportunity to play the piano though. Fortunately, she got a scholarship to The Buchan senior school and the sisters returned to the island. She was happy there; every old school picture shows her with her trademark grin - in fact it was hard to find any pictures of her without that big smile! She finished school with French, German and Music A-Levels and was destined to study languages at university until a last-minute decision made her follow her heart and apply to study Music at the Royal Academy of Music. She loved being a music scholar. Getting through rush-hour in London carrying a cello presented its challenges though. She was highly embarrassed about the day she was squashed onto the tube 4 and put her cello down, landing the large spike at the bottom on someone’s toes. That same cello remains with the family to this day. She loved playing music by Vaughn Williams who was both a composer and her tutor. Margaret graduated in 1961 and pursued a job in teaching. She eventually became head of music at Southport Girls school. She settled in the town and one Christmas put together an adult choir to sing carols locally. She hit it off with one of the members of this choir. His name was George Brady and they were married in 1967. They settled into married life in Southport. Sadly, they were told it was unlikely they could have children. You can imagine their surprise when Fiona turned up in 1976, shortly followed by Paul in 1978. Fiona remembers their house being open and there being a lot of laughter, confirmed by a number of old friends who have got back in touch recently. The family moved to Camberley in 1984 and quickly put down roots, firstly in the church, now known as The Beacon Centre, where the reception was held providing a three-course meal in true Margaret style and the family were delighted that friends made back then have journeyed to be present. If Margaret was soft on the outside, she was very tough on the inside. She focused and was grateful for what they had and what they could do rather than feel sorry about what they couldn’t have. As well as family life, she worked as a music teacher at Hammond Middle School and Lightwater First School. Though she retired officially in 1998, she became even busier post-retirement with music pupils, Len Tyler school of music, The London Manx Society, German classes, supporting various charities, church commitments, Singspiration and probably many more.

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