Editor - Douglas Barr-Hamilton

Island's health deal scrapped

The reciprocal health agreement between Tynwald and the UK parliament will end at the end of March. We reported the announcement in our newsletter six months ago and, despite representation by Manx politicians and even criticism in the British House of Lords, a resident in England will no longer receive NHS treatment when visiting the Isle of Man nor will a resident on the Island be covered when visiting the UK. The only exception seems to be accident and emergency cover provided the patient is not admitted to hospital although, happily, referrals to UK hospitals by Island doctors remain unaffected. Isle of Man ministers including the Chief Minister Tony Brown MHK met UK health secretary Andy Burnham in late January in a bid to change the British government's mind, but without success.

So, as widely anticipated, London Manx Society members who are resident in England will need to pay for most health care needs when visiting the Island and members who are Island residents will need to pay when in the UK - and this starts on 1st April. It is not this newsletter's place to recommend what to do but consideration of taking out travel insurance at least would seem advisable.

DBH

Regrets

The Society was sorry to learn of the death during the winter of Peter Page, on 18th November and Irene Corlett, on 9th December. We extend our sympathy to the family and friends of both long-standing members of LMS.

Saving Money

The hire of a meeting hall for the committee in central London is expensive so for its January meeting it assembled in a restaurant conveniently within a stone's throw of King's Cross station where it was able to stay free of charge for a couple of hours after having lunch together there. It was a good meal and a good meeting.

The restaurant has been in the hands of the same Italian family for over thirty years and would welcome groups of Manxies if they would like to eat and meet there: try Casa Mamma, 339 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8PX, telephone: 020 7837 6370

St Bride's, Fleet Street

This famous church and institute was once a regular meeting place for the Society so our 2010 AGM on Monday 22nd March should revive longer-standing members' reminiscences. Our day will start at 11 o'clock with a talk about the history of the church. It will cost £5 per head and a minimum of ten must be paid for so please advise Rose as soon as possible if you intend to come to the talk. Her address is 24a Heathcote Road, Epsom, Surrey. KT18 5DX (phone 01372 740988)

The AGM will follow 2.00 p.m. after a break for lunch. We hope many will be there to meet together again in interesting surroundings.

A grand day out

It was a Manx picture-postcard of a day when the Shimmins gathered on the Isle of Man under skies which remained blue from dawn till dusk.

Our genial genealogist, Gareth Miller (whose mother was a Shimmin), had hired the well-appointed Community Centre in Castletown to be our venue for the day. Laid out for easy inspection were many relevant letters, photographs and documents which had been supplied by those present or sent from far-flung Shimmins, unable to attend.

Gareth produced a wall-scroll of the family tree dating back to the 18th Century and Charles Shimmin of Grenaby. Thanks to meticulous research Gareth was able to trace the descent of his audience and to connect us by long, differently coloured ribbons to relatives known and unknown, sitting nearby.

After such close encounters we were eager to tackle a superb three course buffet:

*'A better confectioner never was seen
Mrs Cregeen? Yes, Mrs Cregeen!
The lek o' them jellies
Has never been seen '

Mrs Lewthwaite of the Manx Family History Society then joined us and gave us an enthralling talk on Emigration from the Island in the 19th Century. She said she is often asked for another talk from her repertoire entitled "Sea, Sand and Sex' in and Around the Isle of Man" but decided to play safe with us.

To round off a very interesting day we rolled in convoy through the sun-lit countryside first to visit Grenaby and then to visit the church-yard at Malew where ancient graves are mostly occupied by Shimmins. The children amongst us were especially interested in the grave, secured by criss-cross chains of a supposed 17th Century vampire. The inscription was indecipherable, but hopefully not of a Shimmin. We all expressed interest in another gathering soon.

DBH

* from a Manx Wedding

Crammag

There were Cowleys at Crammag in 1600 according to the IOM Natural History and Antiquarian Society. Certainly Jonye Cowley had etched his name and the date on the gable 1860, followed by William who put 1730 and his name on the gate. My mother was a Cowley Crammag, married a builder Fred Callow after gaining her SRN in 1920 at Nobles Hospital. Dad had been building boarding houses in Hutchinson Square, filling in the gaps left by his Father's building early 1900s. Hutchinson Square was taken over for an Internment camp so all Dad's assets were frozen to the end of hostilities.

Nothing daunted, my Mother returned to nursing to keep her family of four children. As the war progressed the children grew up, the two boys went into the forces and my sister was training as a teacher. So that left me and Mum at home. And that brings me to my memories of bunloaf. It was wartime and dried fruit was scarce so bunloaf was made at Christmas and was special.

One day a year, Mum took the day off, (by that time we had a lady needing nursing care living in our house). Mum had cooked two bunloaves. We walked to Derby Castle, caught the tram up to Laxey and then up to the top of Snaefell. We walked down through the heather and bracken, avoiding the gorse, to the Creggans where Mum's brother lived. He made us welcome with a cup of tea and was delighted to get the bunloaf. Then down through Tholt-y-Will where Mum and Dad had their wedding breakfast (and later on her 80th). We passed the Chapel where Granpa Cowley preached and Mum played the harmonium as a girl. She showed me where the school was where she went for the first few years and had memories of Miss Banister.

Then we called at Eliza and John Kinrade's cottage Killabraaga, opposite the Irish Cottages. Eliza treated me to cold custard as well as tea - that went down well. And they were very pleased with their bunloaf. We called in at the Fairy teahouse in Sulby, then took the bus to Ramsey and eventually home.

And as for Crammag - a tholtan for many years, the Cowleys farmed Druidale as tenant farmers. Due to lack of men to help and grandfather's age, they moved to the Creggans the day of the Armistice 1918. The Estate was entailed so Crammag went to a Canadian. In the 70s it was bought by the Water Board. What tales those walls could have told - Wesley coming to the Island, Sulby Cossacks defying the Crown. All history now.

Rose Fowler

Newsletter links to the Potato Tithe

The response in the Isle of Man to the proposal to withdraw reciprocal health arrangements is markedly different to that of our forbearers in the early nineteenth century. Little remembered now is the reaction in 1825 to an attempt by Bishop John Murray, a member of the Atholl family, to tithe potatoes. It was so extreme that he was quickly appointed Bishop of Rochester. Actions taken varied considerably: Patrick farmers assembled a mob of 200 and beat up the Bishop's elderly steward at Knockaloe and two ringleaders, John Kermode and William Hudgeon were transported to Tasmania. In most parts of the Island there were demonstrations and those interested may like to find out if their ancestors were involved.

Perhaps because they know the bishop's family, the response seems to have been fairly mild in Andreas where the John Murray had earlier been rector. A large number of young men decided to join other Manx residents and emigrate to Cleveland, Ohio. However, they had a problem: unable to read or write any more than their families, how were they to communicate? The occasional communal letter was the solution. They would address it to the village schoolmaster, John Cannell, who would announce its arrival and read it to the assembled residents at the school house. Then they would give him their news and he would reply. School was situated then at the entrance to Ballavarry in Bayr ny h'Ayrey (Road of the Ayres) and the building is known as Ohio House to this day.

How much greater the responsibilities of the newsletter editor back then!

DBH

Sources: Never to Return, Hampton Creer, Manx Heritage Foundation (2000) Allen family papers, Ballavarrey.

Dorothy Garbutt donation

The Society acknowledges with grateful thanks a kind donation of £200 which Dorothy kindly asked to be used to support our quarterly newsletter. The committee have agreed that we send a copy to be available in libraries on the Island including those in its secondary schools. Interestingly, the decision seems to reflect the spirit in the previous article and we hope it will foster greater links between Manx people wherever they live.

Making contact in Manx

Lesson 3 A drink perhaps?

Would you like a drink?
By vie lhiat jough? - Would you like a drink?
Cha by vie lhiam - No
By vie lhiat jough? - Would you like a drink?
By vie lhiam - Yes

Anything in particular?
C'red by vie lhiat giu? - What would you like to drink?
By vie lhiam ushtey - I would like some water
By vie lhiam bainney, my sailt - I would like some milk, please
By vie lhiam feeyn - I would like wine
By vie lhiam pynt sharroo - I would like a pint of bitter
By vie lhiam gin as tonic lesh rio - Gin and tonic with ice

A Coffee perhaps?
By vie lhiat caffee? - Would you like a coffee?
By vie lhiam - Yes
By vie lhiam caffee lesh bainney agh gyn shugyr -
I would like a coffee with milk and no sugar
Shoh dhyt, caffee bane gyn shugyr - Here you go, a white coffee without sugar
Gura mie ayd whooinney - thanks yessir
She dty vea - You're welcome

Some points to remember
Whooinney (sometimes spelt ghooinney) comes from the Manx word dooinney which means man. It is a term of affection and is the Gaelic equivalent of yessir.

Reproduced from the Manx Heritage Foundation's web site for learners www.learnmanx.com with kind permission. A MP3 audio version can be downloaded from the site.

Manx in America

We have learned in the last few days that members of the North American Manx Society resident in the Washington DC area have organised lessons in Manx Gaelic, meeting twice a month with Bill (Illiam) Cassidy. Their first meeting was set for Valentine's Day and we understand they were to learn appropriate vocabulary.

We can follow their progress on www.kiarkyl.wordpress.com

Spring Trammon petals wine

My mother, a regular prize winner with her home made wine at the annual Andreas Produce Show sometimes made wine from elderberry flowers. As far as she can remember:
Ingredients:
1) 6 pints of elderflowers (pick on a sunny day when they have plenty of scent) the flowers cut from their storks.
2) 4 pints of hot water. Pour onto the petals and mash with a wooden spoon. Add …
3) juice of 2 lemons with …
4) a teaspoonful of grape tannin, a sachet of yeast, a teaspoonful of yeast nutrient. Take
5) 4 more pints of warm water in another bowl and pour in …
6) 2-3 lbs of white sugar (according to desired sweetness). When all sugar has dissolved …
7) Put the two solutions into a single bowl and stir well. Then
8) Strain through a muslin bag into a gallon demijohn and put in a cool place.
9) One week later, siphon into another demijohn, leaving behind any sediment that will have settled.
10) Five weeks later, siphon the wine into bottles and cork.
11) Drink within the next two-three weeks. It won't keep for entry into Andreas Root Show in mid-October.

DBH

Society Website

We recommend a regular visit to the Society's web site for up-to-date news and loads of links to interesting sites for Island lovers. Our thanks to Wendy Kneen and Sean for their hard and conscientious work in keeping us informed. We hope you didn't miss the Valentine's Day page this month.

www.londonmanxsociety.com

Island Quiz

(open to non-members through the web site)

How well do you know our Island and its story?
1. The Manx Shearwater is a member of the bird family that includes,
a) albatross, b) cormorant, c) penguin, d) puffin.
2. The star turn at the "Dance on Ice" event at the Villa Marina in December 2009 was,
a) Torville and Dean, b) John Terry, c) Kyran Bracken, d) Kieron Richardson.
3. The Steam Packet's Tynwald, as HMS Tynwald, was torpedoed during the Second World War off,
a) Algeria, b) Azores, c) Hebrides, d) Isle of Wight.
4. Zoe Gillings competed in 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games at,
a) Cross-country, b) Giant slalom, c) Luge, d) Snowboard cross.
5. Bird, beast and fish, herb, fruit and golden grain are,
a) Manx fishermen's all night toil, b) Harvest of the air, land and sea,
c) Provisions of the island fair, d) Source of all life.

Answers to the editor by post or email, please. Closing date 15th April. The first with five correct answers will win a prize of the cheaper main course in a meal for two at the Central Hotel, Castle Street, Peel.

Answers to December's questions
1. Crammag, the Callow farm is now at the bottom of Sulby Reservoir.
2. Johnny Myers is a Peel FC defender.
3. Capt Kewley's ship in "English Passengers" was Sincerity.
4. LMS first President was Deemster S Stevenson Moore.
5. Railway locomotives.
Congratulations to Colin Gill for his speedy all correct answers who wins £15 to spend at Laxey Woollen Mills.

New Manx Society

Shortly after our last edition was circulated we learned about the formation of a Luxembourg Manx Society. Contact can be made through www.luxmanx.lu?. A society now 115 years old wishes the new baby every success. Rose, on the other hand, observed, "They are young, enthusiastic and full of energy - and aren't we jealous!"

Invitation from Victoria

That is, if you are in Victoria, Australia contact Liz Newland, 0438 380416 ozimanx@bigpond.com who says anyone of Manx descent heading there is welcome to contact her, Secretary of the Victoria Manx Society and she will show you around when in Melbourne.

Acknowledgements

The editor thanks Rose Fowler, Veen Hill, Wendy Kneen, Maisie Sell for their kind contribution and also the Manx Heritage Foundation.
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 e-mail (barrhamilton@btinternet.com) otherwise to 132 Bush Hill, London N21 2BS.

Closing date for the next issue, 16th May 2010.

Membership list use

The London Manx Society compiles a membership list from the information provided to us when joining the Society or informing us of changes. It is used solely for the purpose of mailing out the quarterly Newsletter and we take our responsibilities under the Data Protection Act seriously. Those responsibilities require that data collected by the London Manx Society may only be used for the specific purposes for which they were collected, newsletter mailings in our case. This personal data may not be disclosed to other parties without your consent and we shall not do so. However, there may be occasions when members would like information from the membership list in order to contact another. In order to facilitate that, we are making available the following process: call Sam Weller on 01223720607 and leave a message requesting the required information or the complete list. Sam will contact you, explain the implications of releasing this information to you under the Act and request your compliance thus transferring responsibility to you that you will keep the information secure.

Sam Weller

Data Protection

The London Manx Society has received and maintains information about members in the form of a mailing list which includes name, address, telephone number, and email address, in accordance with The Data Protection Act 1998. Under the Act, individuals may check their records held on the list.

This information will and should be used only for administration and furtherance of London Manx Society activities. We will not release this information for any other purpose.

Anyone wishing to have their data removed from our mailing list should contact The Newsletter Editor.

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Notice of the Society's AGM is included with members' copy of this newsletter. Please remember that nominations (with name of seconder) of candidates for office (President, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Publications Officer and Honorary Auditor) or committee should be in the hands of the secretary (Rose Fowler, 24a Heathcote Road, Epsom, Surrey KT18 5DX) fourteen days before the date of the meeting. The Minutes of the 2009 AGM are available on our website, www.londonmanxsociety.com.

Invitation to Lunch

An invitation to the annual lunch also accompanies this edition. Our speaker will be Noel Cringle, President of Tynwald who will be making a special trip from the Island to be with us. These are challenging times for Manx folk both economically and politically so we expect he will have some especially pertinent things to say that should be of interest and value to many. It will also be a particular honour to welcome so important a guest and we look forward to meeting him and his wife.
We hope many will attend and both enjoy meeting and hearing him and enjoying the company of a big gathering of London Manx.

Snow

It's beautiful but not for me
This fragile, fairy filigree:
Exquisite pristine tracery
Strung branch to branch on every tree.
Delightful fun for girl and boy:
A snowman, snowballs; oh! What joy!
I never wish to touch, just look
And gaze, as at a picture book
Or on a Christmas card admire
While basking warmly by the fire!
Maisie Sell
(who thought the poem appropriate in view of recent weather)

Peel Marina

A century ago Black's guide-book to the island of 1909 included the following paragraph in its description of Peel:
"The town suffers from one drawback which is probably beyond remedy - the condition of its river-bed, all mud and slush, when the tide is out. The river itself, the Neb, was once one of the best trouting-streams on the Island, but of late years it has been utterly ruined by the washings of the Foxdale Lead Mines, near the source of a tributary."
How things have changed with the opening of the marina in the harbour!

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.com