Editor - Douglas Barr-Hamilton

Annual Lunch 2010

I don't believe anybody could have gone home from our Annual Lunch on 8th May without a boost to the patriotic fervour and pride in the Manx heritage we share. The President of Tynwald, the Hon. Noel Cringle O.B.E. was our Guest of Honour, accompanied by his wife, Mary.

Proceedings started with an excellent lunch of prawn and salmon terrine, followed by Port Roulade and lemon tart and cream. Our President, Stewart Christian, raised the traditional toast to Queen Elizabeth, Lord of Mann, after which we sang one verse of the Manx National Anthem but at the end, Noel Cringle called out there are seven more! Rose followed with her toast to Land of our Birth, and set the upbeat tone by exhorting us all to be proud of the Island with its beauty, benefits and unique history. She mentioned some Worthies like John Quilliam, Peter Heyward, Sir Mark Wilkes and more recently, Sir Mark Cubbon, and characteristics of the Manx people who are determined and proud yet share a particular sense of humour. Later Noel added another epithet - cussed!

Stewart welcomed our guests and other new faces which included Charles Martin from Hanley, Worcester and John Cowell another Manxie from Hitchin, both contemporaries of our speaker. Thanks went to Rose for her unstinting work for the Society, to Wendy and Sean for taking on the website, to Preston our Function Secretary, Sam Weller our Treasurer and Toast Master and Douglas Barr-Hamilton for the Newsletter.

Then the moment we had waited for arrived when the President of Tynwald, Noel Cringle, rose and to our delight and admiration recited all the verses of the Manx National Anthem, which we had learned at Arbory School many years ago - a custom, sadly, no longer perpetuated, at least not when I taught there for 7½ years! Born and brought up with his four siblings at the Friary, Ballabeg “centre of the Universe”, Noel pointed out the unique strategic position of the Isle of Man situated in the middle of the Irish Sea and equal distant from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. He spoke of our Island Nation as the hub of a wheel, with spokes radiating out to Manx people throughout the world. There are, or have been Manx Societies everywhere and he thanked London Manx for continuing to fly the flag in the capital. Noel said he knew every blade of grass in Ballabeg where his parents and grand parents had been born and brought up, and where his own sons and grandchildren too went to school. He marvelled at the changes that have taken place in Education: his grandparents wrote on slates and his parents had dip pens and ink. Gradually radios were introduced into the classroom as an aid to learning, followed by educational programmes on TV and on into the computer age, technical advances our ancestors could never conceive. Huge changes also occurred in Ballabeg with the building of Friary Park, trebling the number of inhabitants and altering the scale and character of the village. Yet Noel's grandchildren had never known anything different and took it entirely for granted. Change cannot be halted and is not a bad thing when one considers that thousands had to leave the Island to seek work in the 50s, when there were 20 lawyers in Athol Street; now there are over 200! The Island economy has grown and developed beyond recognition in the second half of the 20th century with the huge financial sector, a film industry, the successful Shipping Register used throughout the world and even a significant role in the space industry where an important component landed recently on Mars, made by CVI Technical Optics, based in Onchan! The President of Tynwald says our grandchildren have a home to be proud of with Manx culture high on the agenda in schools, as witnessed by the new Manx Language School at St John's and the success of the Manx Music Festival or the Guild, which he feels to be culture at its best.

Always an enthusiastic walker, Noel told us about joining a gang of young men to do the parish walk after a night out at the Majestic, and Mary loyally waiting in Ramsey with breakfast. The popular Parish Walk attracts over 1600 entrants, and last year one Bethany Clague walked the 85 miles throughout the night and went straight on to do a second lap! So the future of the Isle of Man is looking bright and Manx hearts swelled with pride at Noel Cringle's words and we couldn't fail to be impressed and uplifted by the picture he had painted of the “Land of our Birth”.

Stewart thanked him for his wonderful speech and his wise and optimistic vision for the Island's future. There followed our usual Raffle and thanks to the many contributors, including the Park Inn, and the Steam Packet not forgetting Chris Price's invaluable participation. Veen Hill's family won the ticket for the car and two passengers on the Manx boat and, in a kind gesture, Margaret Brady included her pretty beribboned table centres in the raffle. The table centre from the top table was sent to Pamela Fiddick, who has been ill and in hospital recently.

Thus ended a most enjoyable London Manx Annual Lunch and we all rushed home to learn more verses of the National Anthem!

Mavis Bell

Annual General Meeting

This year's AGM took place at St Bride's in Fleet Street on 22nd March, which has a long association with London Manx Society. The Society moved to St Bride's Institute to hold their meetings at the beginning of the First World War when The Manx Quarterly reported that their “removal there was due to increasing numbers making their other meeting-place too small for comfort.” London Manx was still meeting at the Institute when I came to College in London in 1957, then never went back for 40 years!

Before our AGM, we were given a comprehensive tour of St Bride's, named after the indefatigable St Bridget of Kildare, Ireland, who was almost contemporary with St Patrick. Known as the Journalists' Church because of its proximity to Fleet Street, St Brides is also well known for its famous ‘wedding cake' tower, which inspired a baker, nearby, to create the first special tiered cake for weddings. At least eight churches have stood on this site just outside the city walls providing the fascinating history we learned on our tour. This must feature in a future newsletter. It includes medieval printing, Sir Christopher Wren's rebuilding, German bombs and architect, Godfrey Allen's renovations.

After the tour we were all presented with a new comprehensive guide to St Bride's which makes interesting reading and later, we received tea and biscuits before settling down in a pleasant room for our AGM.

Election of the Committee remained unchanged and Stewart Christian has agreed to continue his role as President, a role he fills with enthusiasm and flair. Finances remain reasonably stable in spite of falling numbers, and we all gave our heartfelt thanks to our Treasurer, Sam Weller, who diligently presents us with such an efficient and colourful balance sheet each year! Our thanks also goes to Rose, our lovely acting Secretary, who is the backbone of London Manx Society, finding new Speakers, organising meetings and looking after us all. We simply don't know what we would do without her!

Stewart reminded us of events that we have enjoyed throughout the year, starting with his own, highly successful Cooish in his garden in Enfield, and the Tynwald Day Cooish at the home of Douglas and Margarita Barr-Hamilton with the traditional kipper barbecue, of which we never tire. A presentation was made to Brian and Mary Kneen who have been running the website and producing the Society's newsletter for nearly eight years. Both these tasks take a great deal of time, effort and dedication and we are all most grateful to the Kneens for pursuing both jobs with cheerful efficiency, for so long.

Wendy and Sean have taken over the website (although we'll forgive them for lapsing a little during May, when they are tying the knot in Peel). We send them love and many congratulations for their future. The Newsletter is already in the capable hands of Douglas who is definitely showing some flair and imagination for the job and we feel confident that it will go from strength to strength.

Mavis Bell

Correction

The date on the gable at Crammag was given wrongly in our last issue. It was 1680, not 1860. 180 years is a significant difference.

Island's health deal's temporary reprieve

Days after our last newsletter was distributed an announcement was made that the withdrawal of reciprocal health treatment by the UK government had been postponed for six months. We have no information to suggest that the new arrangements will not come onto force at the beginning of October but there is now, of course, a new UK government.

Ramsey Pier rusting o'er the Sea

In mid May, Tynwald debated a report on options for the future of Ramsey's Victorian Queen's Pier which has not been used for years, the useful seaward end having been demolished long ago for safety reasons. It is now in urgent need of repair and safety work.

Rushen member Juan Watterson suggested the iron pier be demolished adding that it gave him no pleasure to do so. Tynwald rejected his suggestion but balked at approving the £9 million needed to bring it back into use. Members approved the spending of up to £1.8 million to stabilise the pier and prevent it from falling into the sea. Juan Watterson is reported as adding, “Politicians have finally found the will to do something about Queen's Pier in Ramsey after almost twenty years of wrangling, only to find there's no cash to refurbish it although I'm not sure that is the best use of public money during tough economic times. Spending just under £2 million for vital repairs means more may be done when government finances improve.”

Reflecting on reports of twenty years ago, I wonder if it might also mean that it costs more to demolish than to repair and that this sad debate about a sorry sight will revive again when government finances improve.

Island Elections

There have been elections on the Island while we have caught - or tried to avoid - election fever in the UK. In Ramsey, the Commissioners have a new Chairman. He is Captain Nigel Malpass, a commissioner for the North Ward for two years. He is 63 and a former captain with the Bibby Line.

Castletown Commissioners acquired a new Chairman too: Colin Leather who, in his acceptance speech, acknowledged that the immediate future would be important and significant in the Board's history and its decisions will form the future for the town.

In Peel, Ballawattleworth resident, Neil Cushing has become a Peel commissioner after winning the by-election to replace Iaen Skidmore following his resignation. After his victory, Neil, a chartered accountant, said that he would work for the whole of the town but promised to concentrate on finding an alternative to the by-pass proposed for his estate.

On the Island very soon

Manx Radio has been chosen as the exclusive radio media partner for the 2010 Bay Festival. It will host exclusive star interviews, provide audio imaging for commercials and compare the evenings. Acts booked to appear include multi award winners JLS supported by Calvin Harris, The Saturdays, Danyl Johnson and Diversity and an 80s' night with Rick Astley, Belinda Carlisle, Boy George and Kim Wilde. The event will be staged over three nights 18th-20th June.

Manx Radio's Business Director John Marsom commented “this is a tremendous opportunity for the station to be the exclusive radio partner. The event will see 30,000 people in the three days and we are honoured to have been chosen to be a key partner.”

For more information on the Bay Festival go to www manxradio com and follow the link.

DBH

Listening to Manx Radio

With the expansion of Broadband, more and more of us as listening to Manx Radio. Even if we can't hear it on 89, 97.2 or 103.7FM, it's available on www manxradio com.

Buzz

Have you heard of the lucrative new industry on the Island? Exporting healthy Queen Bees to Britain! Due to a ban on importing foreign bees since 1987, Manx bees have not suffered from the disease that threatens the bee population in the U.K. Twelve healthy Queens have been dispatched in ventilated envelopes in a test project to find out if they can repopulate and cure hives infected by disease. Nick Collins, writing in the Daily Telegraph on Friday 14th May, states the Isle of Man beekeepers could be set to profit from the demand for Queens, with bees contributing £200 million to the British economy annually!

Mavis Bell

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.
www.londonmanxsociety.com.

A Manx Groupie

To be a groupie was never high on my “One hundred thing to do before I die” list but when the chance to support my daughter as she was filmed for BBC3's Dancing on Wheels came up, it seemed too good to miss and her partner was to be the Olympic swimmer Mark Foster - Wow!

A wheelchair user was paired with an able-bodied dancer to make up six couples. They had to learn dances like the tango, waltz, quickstep, pas redoublé and cha-cha-cha. They practiced at Brunel University for four days out of five over a six week period. Then, and this is when we groupies came into our own, filming took place in Elstree Studios every Friday.

The choreographer wanted to evoke the atmosphere of a Tea Dance from the 1930s so the audience was asked to dress accordingly. We sat, partisan-like, at separate tables around the edge of the dance floor, ready to clap politely. But, autre temps, autre mores, 1930s' style went by the board as the floor manager worked us up to frenetic cheering, yelling and (so difficult) even whooping.

Silence fell, of course, as the beautifully dressed dancers performed, often to modern but also nostalgic music. Each had then to face the judging panel and take criticism or praise with equanimity. One judge, locked into a wheelchair himself, was best placed to appreciate the difficult manoeuvres executed with such grace.

Nevertheless, each week a couple had to leave the competition. It's bad enough to watch eliminations on TV but to watch the axe fall in real life is even worse. However, after every filming, cast, crew and supporters all repaired to the café cum bar to relax, talk over and have fun together.

The final was a close run thing. The winning couple, Caroline and James, performed brilliantly. Diana and Mark were given a standing ovation. Golden glitter started to rain down on the winning pair. Soon, more and more was heaping up on the dance-floor. Diana and Mark were invited back to join Caroline and James amid the rising tide of gold and Diana's young relatives ran delightedly under the glitter showers to share her moment of glory.

We groupies clapped and whooped to our hearts' content.

Veen Hill

Making contact in Manx
Lesson 4 - Something to eat?

A Pizza perhaps?

C'red by vie lhiat gee? - What would you like to eat?

By vie lhiam peetsey - I would like pizza.

By vie lhiam peetsey lesh caashey as ram garleid - I would like pizza with cheese and a lot of garlic .

Jee bannee mee, cha bee'm paagey uss ny s'anmey - My God, I won't be kissing you later.

Shen braew dooys! - That's fine by me!

A Bacon sandwich

By vie lhiam braghtyn bagoon, my sailt - I would like a bacon sandwich, please.

Nane ny jees? - one or two?

By vie lhiam jees my sailt. Ta mee aggrysagh - I would like two please. I'm hungry.

Cha nel oo aggryssagh, jus jollysagh - You're not hungry, just greedy.

At the shop

Moghrey mie. C'red by vie lhiat? - Good morning. What would you like?

By vie lhiam boteil dy ushtey, soo-mess, bainney, as arran - I would like a bottle of water, fruit juice, milk and bread.

Vel argid dy-liooar ayd? - Do you have enough money?

Cha nel argid aym - I have no money.

Well, ersooyl lhiat - well get away with yer.

Some points to remember

There is no verb ‘to have' in Manx. We say is there money at you (ayd) to which the reply is there is/isn't money at me (aym)

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.

To support and develop Manx conversational skills there is now a regular fortnightly conversational group at Carine's in Peel on a Thursday evening from 7.30. More information from Manx Heritage Foundation.

From beginner to expert
A BOOK REVIEW
Manannan's Cloak
An anthology of Manx Literature
Selected and translated by Robert Corteen Carswell
(Published by Francis Boutle Publishers) 2010

Having grown up on the Island at a time when Manks, the Manx language was scarcely spoken and assumed to be dying swiftly and having left, like many of my contemporaries, at the age of 18 (because “There is no future in banking in the Isle of Man, my boy!”) my linguistic skills are inadequate to make full use of this new publication. Yet, because it sets the chosen texts in their historical context and provides a translation of each one, this remains a fascinating book and one that I found difficult to put down having started to read. It contains much I didn't know.

By reputation, Manx is not a literary language and the author quotes Bishop Isaac Barrow's 1663 correspondence where he complains that nothing is written in Manx and that the people who speak it are incapable of writing. A different reason was suggested to me by the author's citation of an earlier bishop, John Meryk who, just over a hundred years before, observed that there were two versions of Manx. It seems the language of the North was close to Irish and the language of the South to Scots. Indeed, he tells us that in a book of 1980, D B Gregor says this is why the Island has two Deemsters. I hadn't known that. Interesting and informative, he rightly plays tribute to the work of Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh (The Manx Gaelic Society) which, from 1899 has kept alive an interest in our Island's language now flourishing again being taught in schools with one primary school, Noel Cringle told us at this month LMS lunch, conducting all its lessons in Manx. This thriving tongue studied and learned in both primary and secondary schools and being spoken, at least as a second language, by the new generation of islanders must now have reached the stage where it is important in further education too. Manannan's Cloak, with over seventy examples of Manx literature, is going to be on serious students' reading list for years to come.

Expats like us will find it useful too especially when having to answer the more complex questions we frequently get asked about our heritage and tongue and, in one way or another, love it. Produced with financial assistance from the Manx Heritage Foundation, the book will be undoubtedly be available, price £16.99, at all bookshops on the Island. If you can't wait until your next visit, order locally; the ISBN number is 978 1903427 49 1.

DBH

Phantom at the Print

I thought this story might be of interest as I had known the John Quirk mentioned. He lived in Peel and I knew him quite well as he was a friend of my older cousins.

Reporter John Quirk of the Isle of Man Times had heard rumours of an office ghost but thought it just a joke. He was later to change his mind.

It was said that the cleaner, Mrs Leece had just finished her last task at about 9 o'clock one Friday evening when she saw what she described the ghostly figure of a short, stocky man staring at her. Her revelations supposedly brought out several confessions. Reporter, Sean Kenny said that long ago he had seen a shadowy figure in the corner where official documents were stored in a large safe but had kept quiet about it for fear of ridicule. Others said they just knew the building was haunted. Another reporter said his wife, a reputed psychic, just knew it; the building has an unhappy feeling about it, she used to say. Alice Rylance who had worked there all her life, confessed that, if alone, she would never use the stairs that lead from the newsroom to her office; she knew not why. Arthur Moore told the strangest tale: he slipped into the office at ten one evening to make a phone call to a friend in Port Erin. He broke off his conversation to investigate when he heard knocking overhead. He found nothing so returned to the phone, apologised to his friend adding the knocks must have been in his imagination. “No. I heard them too,” his friend said promptly.

Working on a story late one evening, John saw a figure on those stairs. His immediate reaction was that somebody else was working late especially as he could hear footsteps overhead. So he went to see who it was. As he got onto the staircase, the footsteps seemed to move quickly away and a shadow, equally quickly, moved up the stairs. He knew for sure this was not a joke being played on him.

Maisie Sellas
as told to her ghost writer.

Manx Centenary 2011

The World Manx Society will celebrate one hundred years next year. Many events are planned and most will take place around the Tynwald celebrations. We expect it to be a wonderful year.

The WMS are embarking on two historical projects for which they require the help of “more senior” members. One is a booklet tracing the history of the Society with memories and anecdotes. Second, if possible, to supplement the booklet with a CD of those memories spoken by the teller. They would especially love to hear from Manx folk who have left the Island adding, perhaps, reasons for the family's emigration and its history before and after leaving. Can any readers help? Please contact Secretary, Carol Gray, worldmanxassociations@manx net or 01624 851669.

The year's activities begin with a Manx tae on Saturday 12th February and, if you are on the Island this summer, do consider their St John's evening on 17th June, the annual gathering and dinner on 3rd July, a charabanc picnic on 15th August and a visit to Milntown on 11th September.

Barrow Manx Society

The Society Secretary has kindly sent me a list of monthly activities. Coming up shortly are a Tynwald Dinner on 5th July, of course, a walk and tour of the Hoad Monument on 16th August and, on 20th September, a viewing of a DVD and a fun quiz on it entitled “IOM 50.” To find out whether it's about motor bikes or 50p notes, you will have to attend.

N.A.M.S.

The North American Manx Association will hold its 50th Convention from 5-8th August in Greenwood Village, a suburb of Denver in Colorado and home of the Rocky Mountains Manx. London having welcomed the President of Tynwald Hon Noel Cringle this year, the convention will receive Chief Minister Tony Brown, MHK as its keynote speaker at the Dinner. In addition, it will have a session on Genealogy from Lucy Peterson, the NAMA Genealogist, Lynn Cupitt from Australia will explain how she pursues genealogy and Dr. Cheryl Cheek will report on her Manx identity study in which many of the members participated.

Your newsletter editor has full details and an application form if any reader would consider making the trip. I know you will be made welcome there.

Transported?

Hampton Creer's book, “Never to Return” which first appeared ten years ago seems to have provoked a very belated reaction. London Manx only made mention of it three months ago. Since then I have received a request for help from Patricia Power who is researching a book she intends to write that follows up on the lives of the convicts mentioned there and to tell the story of their family life and background on the Island before their punishment, something of their trial, incarceration in Castle Rushen and, if possible, journey to “the colonies.” She would be delighted if she could complete their story with information about their subsequent life and the life of their children and grandchildren. “Flesh onto the dry bones of the archives,” is how she explained it to me.

Her research has already uncovered other cases including that of an illiterate youngster who rose to own important parts of Tasmania and she has compiled lists of the transported, mainly to Australia where Patricia lived for some time; her son still there in Melbourne. She has also uncovered a few cases of Manx men and women tried off the Island including one prosecuted by the Admiralty for piracy.

Patricia would be most grateful for any information that folk like us can supply. Is there a mysterious gap in your family tree? Have you come across a Manx surname in any of the old British colonies? Information of this sort has already led her to the children descended from an unnamed child who accompanied her mother on the transport ship and made good in New South Wales.

Please help if you can; a snippet of information or a family tradition might lead to a big discovery. Contact Patricia by email on felons@manx net, by phone on 01624 851330 or by mail at

Lhoobs Cottage,
The Eairy,
Foxdale.
IM4 3JA.

Acknowledgement in the book will be made and can be in the form of “information from a Manx connection, or Manx descendent, or great grandson, etc., or by name and address,” according to preference.

We all look forward to reading about your family secrets.

DBH

Island Quiz

(open to non-members through the web site)

How well do you know our Island and its story?

1. Which Bishop of Sodor and Mann became Bishop of Rochester:

John Bardsley, John Meryk, George Murray, John Phillips?

2. This year's defeated Peel commissioner candidate was Ian Davison, Colin Leather, Nigel Malpass, Iaen Skidmore?

3. North American Manx Association 50th Convention will be in Cleveland, Ohio; Denver, Colorado; Las Vegas, New Mexico; Toronto, Canada?

4. What was the Ellan Vannin's name prior to an 1883 conversion from paddle steamer: Ben-my-Chree II, Mona's Isle II, King Orry II, Victoria?

5. Which rider's death in 1972 precipitated the TT losing its World Championship status from 1976: John Clarke, Santiago Herrero, Gilberto Parlotti, Bryan Steenson?

Answers to the editor by post or email, please. Closing date 15th July.

The first with five correct answers will win a prize of a meal at the Central Hotel in Peel . . .

Answers to March's questions:

1. Albatross (despite its Latin name)

2. Kyran Bracken.

3. Azores.

4. Snowboard cross.

5. Source of all life (Manx Fisherman's Evening Hymn)

Nobody submitted the correct answers to all the questions.

Acknowledgements

The editor thanks Mavis Bell, Rose Fowler, Veen Hill, Wendy Kneen, Patricia Power, Maisie Sell, Sam Weller, for their kind contribution and also the Manx Heritage Foundation, Manx Radio and the World, North American and Barrow Manx Societies.

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 August 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.

Telephone numbers

With their addresses, we also have the telephone number of a high proportion of members. These are useful if contact is necessary to give information about a change in arrangements but, as we discovered recently, no help if they are out of date. If any members have changed their phone number in the past three or four years and are happy for us to have their new number, it would be helpful if it could be sent to The Newsletter Editor, please. If you would prefer that we did not hold a record of your phone number, he will be equally willing to remove it should you let him know.

Postponed railway outing

Because of its proximity to the Tynwald Day cooish, our trip on the Kent & East Sussex Railway this summer will not now take place. Preston Glass has promised to organise it for another time.

Lilac

We are privileged, this issue, to be offered a brand new and unpublished poem by Maisie Sell which she says was inspired literally as she was struggling home with her groceries through Highbury.

There were lilacs in a garden down the road,

I was bringing home the shopping - quite a load:

It was raining cats and dogs, turning pavements into bogs

When I saw them in a garden down the road:

Two lilac trees with clusters mauve and white.

Together they made such a pretty sight,

Though the rain streamed down my face

The day was brightened by the grace

Of these spring cameos of clusters mauve and white.

Maisie Sell

Dates for your diary

President's Cooish

The date for this wonderful afternoon in Enfield has been set for Sunday 6th June. All are welcome: the more the merrier. 53 Monks Close, Enfield EN2 8DZ from about 12.30 p.m. Please telephone Stewart 020 8363 3343 or send him an e-mail to let him know you will be going.

Kipper Cooish

July 4th for our Tynwald Day celebrations will be at 41 Sunnybank, Epsom, KT18 7DY. Rose's daughter has volunteered!

Please telephone Rose if you intend to come 01372 740988.

Mhelliah

Date, 16th October.

The Service will be at St. Bride's Church, Fleet Street at 11.00am followed by a buffet lunch from midday to 4.00pm at St Bride's Institute. Mr Juan Vernon from Sulby will give an illustrated talk “Victorian Heritage in Mann”.

Please note the change of venue.

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