Dennis Turner, author of’ ‘Manx Myths and More’ and ‘More Manx Myths’, opened his talk to a crowded Centenary Centre with a brief explanation as to how he had got involved in this important, fascinating work. Apparently, he arrived in the Island seventeen years ago and fell under its charm. He felt that he needed to know about its history and folklore – hit the Manx National Heritage library and has only recently emerged!

To a large extent, myths and legends are an oral tradition and it appears that it is only in the last century that attempts have been made to write them down. With the recent population shifts, this has become even more urgent. Indeed, in some cases the older generation have passed away and the stories with them. Peel Heritage Trust has long recognised the loss but we’ve been rather slow to get a recording project in action. With the help and advice of experts such as the Manx Heritage Foundation, we have made a start. How we wish we’d recorded tales and stories from our predecessors sooner!

We learned that legends could be classified under various headings – cautionary tales (largely to warn children), explanatory (to account for some weather phenomenon, or similar), hallucinatory or ‘away with the fairies’, often caused by eating grain infected with the fungus, ergot which is a hallucinogen. This persists even in bread. Other tales relate to divination, seeking to forecast the future.

Dennis writes in rhyme and the tales in his two books, published by the Manx Experience, are illustrated with line drawings. He referred to these in the course of the talk, often by asking if any in the audience of ancient Manx lineage, had heard of them. To underline a previous concern, a blank was often drawn. This included the expression, ‘Peel the Hen’. This refers to a tradition, in Colby, on St Catherine’s Day, when disputing factions would peel feathers from a dead hen and bury them, along with their grievances. This was followed by drinks to restore the friendship and was repeated several times to be on the safe side. The expression now means, to have a social drink. If you would like to read about the Catherine who donated the land for the annual fair and why, just read the book! Each reading was warmly applauded

Do you know that a goose flower is a daffodil and that they should not be taken indoors, otherwise geese will fail to hatch eggs? We do, now!

Why do Manxmen have a pinch of salt in their pockets when doing a deal? This relates to a wizard who made a fabulous palace on South Barrule. You’ll need to read book two for this one! Peel tales include the Moddey Dhoo, Kicking the Rock and even the more recent Peel 50 cars! Thank you Dennis for your work and the pleasure of reading these tales.

Our next meeting is 8th April, 7.30 when Stewart Bennett will show us ‘Unusual Slides’.

There must be something special about Peel. Just as the Peel Pantoloons sell out long before the event, the same is also true about our Xmas party, and we are limited to just one performance! We hit our maximum with nearly ninety seated at beautifully decorated tables. The Centenary Hall was at its glittering best, grand piano expectantly on stage with backdrop of stars - stage and house lighting set ready.

As is our custom, Mike Crellin and I dispensed drinks with mounting anticipation from all for the meal. This, itself, is established by tradition – a glorious turkey hotpot provided by Nigel and Nicki Kermode of Green’s and Tynwald Restaurants’ fame. This year’s was a vintage. Masses of flavoursome meat in a rich stock laced with vegetables of all kinds. Rolls and pickled cabbaged accompanied this, followed by mince pies. Everything disappeared, with a fortunate few getting seconds!

The entertainment was also vintage. Dot Tilbury had a hand in setting this up, although she was tied up with a rehearsal for the Gaiety pantomime. We missed her, terribly, but what a success! Geoff. Corkish, MHK, compered brilliantly, even recalling that I had taught him at Ballakermeen, remembering my Jowett Javelin that I raced around. I needed this as I also taught in St Ninian’s – all single sex in those distant days.

Vinty Kneale delighted us with his outrageous verse. Ian Qualtrough excelled at being Ian, even without Dot, his regular handler! Peter Cringle’s sang, accompanied by Kath Blackburn. What a delightful pairing!

Solemnity appeared briefly, as two deemsters, complete in robes took centre stage. Were their wigs really floor mops? Surely not! We were transported to Tynwald Hill with the new laws being read in English and Manx. Manx? Was this really the language? The whole audience was rolling out of its’ seats at this wonderful parody. What a wonderful luxury we enjoy in this free island nation to laugh at ourselves. I understand that the two ‘deemsters’ were really young farmers in disguise. Long may they and our freedom continue!

Chairman, John Lightfoot, thanked all the performers plus Nicki , Nigel and Pam Quine, our super secretary, who had borne the brunt of organising the event, supported, as always, by husband, Geoff. If I’ve missed anyone, give yourself a hearty thanks. It was a wonderful night.

Our next meeting will be in the Centenary Centre, 7.30pm, Tuesday 8th January. Des Robinson will give us a talk entitled, ‘Life on the Calf of Man’. Perhaps Peel ought to annexe it before “King” David does!

We wish you all a Very Happy Twelve Days of Christmas and a splendid New Year!

Quintin Robinson’s slide lecture on Peel Harbour and its boats, over the last 40 years was fascinating. The Centenary Centre theatre was filled and stayed that way until keys were rattled at ten! This talk cries out to be published.

As a member of the World Ship Society, Quintin’s enthusiasm, sown in childhood, lives on and is very infectious. Many of the audience identified with the harbour, particular boats, skippers, crews, rescues, losses and successes. The underlying theme seemed to be the great love those of us living in this ancient port have for our harbour, its comings and goings, development and the characters involved in this changing tapestry. Even the buildings manage to survive the passage of time, presently taking on a whole new sparkle following the water retention scheme and the much- increased level of activity. True, fish may be in decline whilst conservation of stocks is essential, but livings are there to be made in the leisure industry and a brief visit shows how these opportunities have been seized.

Slide after slide showed the amazing range of building materials, heavy machinery shipped here over the last forty years. Ships laden with fish barrels, salt, coal, fertilizer, fish, unexploded bombs and targets from the now defunct firing range.

Many naval and army ships were featured, including our own fishery protection vessels, survey ships, gas pipe and cable layers, sheltering ships from easterly gales and pleasure steamers such as the paddle ship Waverly and her more-frequently seen screw-driven partner, the Balmoral.

Even Steam Packet vessels docked here. The side-loading car ferry Manx Maid would discharge here before the extensive harbour works in Douglas gave additional shelter. A long line of waiting buses took passengers into the present capital. Even hovercraft featured, including Clyde Hover Ferries of 1966. If this had persisted and succeeded we might have stolen a march on Seacat!

The Millennium Year, 1978, saw Odin’s Raven entering the bay after its historic voyage from Norway, accompanied by a whole fleet of boats, with crowds on every vantage point. This vessel may now be seen in the House of Manannan.

Tall ships come and go, their mass of sails and rigging a marvel of developing maritime technology over centuries. Some Peel-built sailing vessels survive to take part, often in the Traditional Boat Week-ends. Her Majesty and other members of the royal family have sailed in on the royal yacht, Brittania, now open to the public in Leith, near Edinburgh.

Cruise ships sometimes have to lay -off in the bay with tenders ferrying passengers into the port. These have been greeted by members of the Victorian Society, in costume with a themed event in the town. Perhaps we need to revive this kind of activity in the still-growing cruise market. We’ve even had the theatre ship here with marvellous water-borne performances.

If you love the sea, its sailors and ships, come to Peel!

Next meeting, Tuesday, 13th November, 7.30pm, Centenary Centre – Roy Baker and Eddie Leece. Unmissable!

Unfortunately, I was off island for John ‘Dog’ Callister’s second curragh walk for Peel Heritage Trust. This time, apparently, the weather was fine and twenty members had a thoroughly entertaining and informative walk. We’re so grateful to John and so many others who give generously of their time and share their knowledge and enthusiasm with us.

There are many reasons for straying outside our home patch. We feel that it is important to keep in touch with what’s happening in other parts of the Island, particularly in terms of care of the countryside and  the nation’s inherited stock of  buildings. Without wishing to blow the horn too loudly for the increasing number of heritage and conservation groups, there really are signs for optimism. It is easy to become  despondent about the continuing loss of fine, historic buildings and landscape. Indeed, one whole town seems to be set on a self-destruct! We’re very grateful, in Peel, for the companies and individuals who are restoring and enhancing the oldest parts of the city.

To help you to appreciate this, come and join Roy Baker of the Leece Museum for a walk around Castle Street, Crown Street and Market Street. Meet at the Leece Museum at 7.00pm on Wednesday, 15th August. Note the day and earlier time.

This is not in competition with the world famous ghost walks although you may be startled by local spirits making  ‘spectrecals’ of  themselves!  You don’t have to be a member – just turn up for a fascinating evening in the Manx heartland.

Andrew Johnson of Manx National Heritage had kindly agreed to show members of Peel Heritage Trust around the conserved village of Cregneash on Sunday, the 10th June. The afternoon was glorious and thirty people set off on the fascinating tour, starting with Church Farm, described as a typical Quarterland farm of 80acres.

The farmhouse is of traditional design; double-fronted, hearths set in gables, mono-pitch roof at rear. The thie veg, outside, now augmented by indoor toilet; pig sty in surrounding yard. The whole farming set-up is very much in tune with current thinking on organic farming. In its time, of course, there were no alternatives as chemical products were in their infancy, now being strangled!

Even heating was organic, relying on peat as all coal had to be imported and wood was at a premium. All structures, including the surrounding farm buildings, had to be built from local materials. This, again, is very much in tune with modern thinking on reducing the miles products are transported to cut their ‘Carbon footprint’! 

Impressively, the community sought to be self-supporting, growing as much of its own food and raising livestock and producing milk for its own needs. The sea provided fish to augment what might otherwise be seen as a rather monotonous diet. Communication with other settlements was restricted by walking distance or, if you were lucky, a ride on horse and cart. No regular shopping trips but self-reliance and assistance from family and friends to deal with child-birth, sickness and death. The church still administers to the spiritual needs of this community and surrounding area.

Cregneash was never unique in its way of life. Its forge, spinning, weaving, wood-turning, wheelwrights and other necessary crafts were universal. Many of us have seen this disappear in our own lifetimes. Given the continuing abuse of the planet, these skills had better be revived whilst there are still people alive who can teach them.

Each of the buildings was visited, in turn. The Weaver’s House’ was of particular interest to our membership secretary, Richard Banyard, as his great uncle lived there in the 1920’s, with two spinster sisters.

Our grateful thanks to Andy and our encouragement to visit or re-visit this valuable microcosm of Manx life.

Peel Heritage Trust owns the Peel City Guardian and we have managed to revive this bit of local, Manx heritage with some success. This has been greatly assisted by our editor, Dr Malcolm Hannan. His resignation, for personal reasons, is a tremendous blow as he worked well beyond his brief with enthusiasm and skill. We wish to record our thanks and appreciation, publicly. Now, we need a new editor. If you think that you would enjoy working with a very friendly team, producing just four editions a year, or would like some more information, please ring Vic Bates on 844113.

Next meeting, Sunday, 8th July. Meet between Ballaugh Church and school, 2.00pm, for a curragh walk with John ‘dog’ Collister.   

Occident, Orient or Accident

The above title was suggested by Edgar Quine when he spoke to Peel Heritage Trust about the Hong Kong Police. This appeared to summarise his thirty-two years service in the now, former colony.

Edgar opened by referring to life as a number of steps. It was only over a period of time that the relationship between these steps became apparent or meaningful. In his case, this meant leaving school at 14+ to work at a Ramsey builders’ as a ‘junior book-keeper’. This largely comprised counting screws and weighing nails but importantly, as a later step showed, some simple accounting.

When18, it was off to National Service – a culture shock, particularly for youngsters from the Island. The starting point was Oswestry in the Royal Artillery and then to Aldershot for Motor Transport training. This seemed to centre on raising and lowering motorcycles on their rear stands, to numbers. Everything was angled to inculcate unquestioning obedience. What might have seemed trivial, then, showed its importance later on in his career.

Edgar had no qualifications on leaving school but, thanks to Army Education centres, managed to gain matriculation exemption - an entitlement to university entrance. The thought struck me, as a retired educator, that as one of a large number of young people who succeeded in this, in addition to other training, how did schools miss this talent? How much is still being wasted? In our speaker’s case, he moved from his role as a military policeman into the Colonial Police Force and was posted to Hong Kong.

Perhaps the most important event for Edgar, was meeting his wife, a Chinese girl who had endured Japanese occupation during the war. We were told that the dreadful killing of four million Jewish people in Europe was eclipsed by the Japanese murder of twenty million in China and ten million other people in the Far East, a ghastly event that fails to receive the same level of attention. This was in addition to other brutality, including rape and torture. (Would that we could believe that such evil no longer exists, but news programmes show otherwise.) This background is necessary knowledge when seeking to work in and understand eastern countries.

Marrying a Cantonese speaking girl was yet another ‘step’. Although not planned, this obviously improved Edgar’s own language skills and acted as a bridge between the two cultures. Apparently, such a marriage was most unusual then but is, no longer, helping to meld two different cultures. 

Awards accompanied the different steps in Edgar’s career: Colonial Medal for meritorious service as Assistant Commissioner, Queen’s Police Medal working as Director of Operations and OBE as Deputy Director of police operations.

Returning to the theme of meaningful steps, he was appointed, at one stage, a senior post in commercial crime because of his knowledge of accounts - counting screws in Ramsey! A fascinating talk, much appreciated.

Next event, meet at Cregneash Church for 2.00pm on 10th June - village tour with Andy Johnson.