A conversation with Doris Clague about her childhood in Douglas before WW2 and her work in knitting factories around Douglas.

Born in 1927 on Castle Mona Avenue, Douglas, Doris Clague's early years were spent at Springvalley Lodge, where her father was the garnder at Springvalley House, before they moved to Broadway, from where she married in 1947.

This conversation covers such topics as: Murray's Road School, performing in the Guild, Broadway in the 1940s, Douglas entertainment and dance halls of the 1940s (including Howsdrake, Derby Castle and the Palais de Danse), deliveries, shopping, and her first time off the Isle of Man.

She also discusses her career as a machinist in knitting factories around Douglas. She started at the age of 14 in Central Knitting on Athol Street where she made pullovers for the military. She then moved to work at the glove factory in Victory House, before she worked at home when she had young children, doing work for Doughty's.

This conversation with Doris Clague was conducted by Elizabeth Ardern-Corris on 21 October 2011.

This interview is part of the collection of over 200 oral history recordings freely available on the Culture Vannin website: culturevannin.im/watchlisten/oralhistory/

Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

Oral history interview with Doris Clague (21 Oct 2011)

The Stone Tape - 09.07.25

A conversation about growing up in Bradda, coming to be deeply involved with the Surby Silver Band, which became Rushen Silvery Band.

Jim Crebbin (b. 14/03/1932) grew up in Bradda and attended the Rushen Central School before leaving school at 14 to become apprenticed as a joiner in Port St Mary. From this period, Jim speaks about family, school, Ballafesson Chapel and Sunday School, entering the Guild by mistake, singing on the BBC, hearing of myrrh blooming at Christmas Eve and more.
Jim first heard the Surby Silver Band at the age of 12 and his life-long involvement began. He speaks about the origins of the band, the characters, performances at Fleshwick, the curious cause of the name-change, the instruments and uniforms, the changing homes of the band and the building of the their own hall in the 1980s, conducting the band for 40 years, the spirit of the group and more.
Wonderful memories of a life at the centre of a wonderful musical community.
 
This conversation with Jim Crebbin was conduction by Elizabeth Ardern-Corris on 21 May 2012.

This interview is part of the collection of over 200 oral history recordings freely available on the Culture Vannin website: culturevannin.im/watchlisten/oralhistory/

Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

Oral history interview with Jim Crebbin (21 May 2012)

The services at Fleshwick accompanied by the Rushen Silver Band, and the Surby Silver Band which it grew out of, are an amazing piece of history in the South of the Isle of Man.
Jim Crebbin here explains the Liverpool inspiration and the early history of how it started.

This is an extract from the oral history interview with Jim Crebbin recorded by Elizabeth Ardern-Corris in 21 May 2012.
The full interview is available online here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/oralhistory/jim-crebbin-904780/

Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

The history of the Fleshwick services

The myrrh plant is said to bloom in the midst of winter in the Isle of Man. Normally connected to Christmas Eve (often by the Old Calendar), one of the best-renowned places to see it is Ballafesson.
Jim Crebbin here describes his memories of people he trusted going out at midnight and reporting that they witnessed the miraculous event.

This is an extract from the oral history interview with Jim Crebbin recorded by Elizabeth Ardern-Corris in 21 May 2012.
The full interview is available online here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/oralhistory/jim-crebbin-904780/

Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

Myrrh blooming at Ballafesson

Few will realise that the Rushen Silvery Band was once the Surby Silver Band, and it would probably still be so were it not for the strange circumstances around a donation in in 1944, which caused great disappointment and bitterness for a time between many in the band.

This is an extract from the oral history interview with Jim Crebbin recorded by Elizabeth Ardern-Corris in 21 May 2012.
The full interview is available online here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/oralhistory/jim-crebbin-904780/

Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

Re-naming the 'Surby Silver Band' to the 'Rushen Silver Band'

"If you support the community, the community will, in return, support you"

Longstanding member of the Rushen Silver Band, Jim Crebbin, reflects on the enormous importance of community in the band's history and success.

This is an extract from the oral history interview with Jim Crebbin recorded by Elizabeth Ardern-Corris in 21 May 2012.
The full interview is available online here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/oralhistory/jim-crebbin-904780/

Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

Community & the Rushen Silver Band

The Rushen Silver Band grew out of the earlier Surby Silver Band, whose practice space at Ballafesson is one which will be remembered by very few today...

This is an extract from the oral history interview with Jim Crebbin recorded by Elizabeth Ardern-Corris in 21 May 2012.
The full interview is available online here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/oralhistory/jim-crebbin-904780/

Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

The Surby Silver Band rehearsal room

The early history of Surby Silver Band, which Jim Crebbin joined as a boy and remained with throughout his life, even after it grew into being the Rushen Silver Band.

This is an extract from the oral history interview with Jim Crebbin recorded by Elizabeth Ardern-Corris in 21 May 2012.
The full interview is available online here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/oralhistory/jim-crebbin-904780/

Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486

The early history of Surby Silver Band

"... this has been truly transformative..."

At the end of the week-long Manx Summer School / Scoill Souree, Ruth Keggin Gell sat down to speak to Lauren Collister and Jonathan Hills, to find out more about their experience of the week.
As two of the many Manx leaners from the USA, it is interesting to hear their unique story, perspective on the language, and their experience of the week in Peel.

More information about learning Manx and the Summer School in particular can be found here:
https://www.learnmanx.com
https://www.learnmanx.com/summerschool

The image here is of a few of the students from the Summer School in July 2025.
Jeant dy mie, ooilley, as gura mie mooar eu!

This recording was produced by Culture Vannin in 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote, support and celebrate the culture of the Isle of Man.
http://www.culturevannin.im
http://www.facebook.com/culturevannin
https://www.instagram.com/culturevannin/

Manx Summer School 2025: A conversation with Lauren & Jonathan

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ Edinburgh community radio ♥

𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓷 𝓵𝓲𝓿𝓮: www.ehfm.live
𝓰𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵 𝓮𝓷𝓺𝓾𝓲𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓼: hello@ehfm.live

Promoting and supporting all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.

Culture Vannin awards grants and initiates schemes whilst supporting the work of development officers for music and language. The work of Culture Vannin has been fundamental to the revival of interest and support for Manx language and culture over the last twenty years.

Culture Vannin is the trading name for the Manx Heritage Foundation, registered charity 333 in the Isle of Man.

New tracks tagged #Manx