Manx Heritage Foundation Oral History Project
Manx Heritage Foundation Oral History Project Mr Clifford Irving talking with Mr David C Doyle 1997 Mr Doyle: Mr Irving, you were born in Peel on the 24th day of May 1914 and today we are going to try and cover the years 1914-1926 but before we get to the birth could you tell us something about your parents, please? Mr Irving: Yes, like many other young people at that period my father Willie Irving, as he was known in Peel, emigrated to South Africa with his friend George Moore, later of the Raggatt, near Peel, and Member of the Keys for Peel. My mother, a Miss Cottier, joined my father in South Africa where they were married near Kimberley. In fact I was conceived in South Africa. My parents returned to Peel where I was born in my grandfather’s house. My grandfather was Edward Cottier, the draper, and during all my life in Peel I always lived with my grandparents. My parents lived nearby and I probably spent as much time in their house as with my grandparents. It was a very happy situation and especially after my mother died when I was six years old my grandparents were still very anxious that I should stay and live in their house. I had a brother, Frank, who unfortunately died in the past few years. So, between my grandparents and my parents it was a very happy situation. We all got on very well indeed. Mr Doyle: Can you recall your earliest memories of being brought up in Peel, in the west of the Island? Mr Irving: Oh dear, oh dear.
[Show full text]