Valerie Caine's blog

A service of Remembrance took place in the town of Ramsey to mark the 111th anniversary of the loss of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's vessel Ellan Vannin on the 3rd December, 1909, in the waters of Liverpool bay.

Departing Ramsey, the Ellan Vannin sailed towards the English port, but less than a mile from the bar lightship the vessel was hit by a tremendous storm and sank with the loss of all lives. A few bodies were recovered but many were never found, with debris, including livestock, washed ashore.

With the continuing threat of Covid-19, original plans for Tynwald Day (the Isle of Man's National Day) were scaled down substantially, with members of the public advised not to attend with a view to 'social-distancing' and the restrictions on gatherings. Bur prior to the day itself the Isle of Man Government decided that, due to the lengthy period without any new, known cases of the virus, that a skeletal version of the annual proceedings could take place.

Organised in the wake of restrictions implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic, a weekend of special events was organised to celebrate St Maughold, regarded by some as the patron saint of the Isle of Man, and the beauty and history of the parish church.

Although this year's Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Gathering was set to be a virtual celebration, the relaxation of social distancing and an extensive return to normality has resulted in the addition of some live events.

A selection of 'food and folk' sessions will take place at Noa Bakehouse in Douglas each lunchtime, profiling each of the Celtic nations.

Another recent stamp issue by the Isle of Man Post Office focuses upon a number of principal artist/lecturers who inspired successive generations of painters at the Douglas School of Art.

Although this year marks the centenary of the school as a publically-funded, educational establishment, its history extends into the nineteenth century. Pupils of the school made their mark world-wide, but recognised their debt towards those who inspired them and fostered their creativity.

Since its inception in 1996, Mooinjer Veggey (Little People) has been successfully promoting Manx Gaelic, through its network of pre-school groups across the Island and its support of the only Manx language school - Bunscoill Ghaelgagh. But it now needs your help to raise more money to enable the organisation to fund its goal of training further staff and production of Manx resource material.

The Isle of Man Post Office is currently celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of William Wordsworth, with the release of a delightfully nostalgic stamp collection.

Remembered as one of Britain's best-known romantic poets, this stamp issue captures both the essence and appearance of the Island at the time of his visit in 1833; presented through the use of paintings of the period which reflect his points of destination. Extracts from his work are featured on each stamp.

During the past three years, The Archibald Knox Forum has highlighted the unique work of the Manx born designer and teacher through the medium of talks, exhibitions and films; as well as encouraging enthusiasts to attend regular drop-in events and visit sites associated with Archibald Knox.

But now the Directors of The Archibald Knox Forum (a Manx charity) have laid out ambitious plans to mount the largest exhibition of the designer's work in the world, on the Isle of Man.

As we wage our own war with Covid-19, one of the final productions staged at the Centenary Centre in Peel was a unique double act reflecting in comedic fashion on one of the more distinctive aspects of World War II.

The ubiquitous Home Guard was ultimately revived in peace time by David Croft and Jimmy Perry in the successful TV series Dad's Army; which subsequently transferred to radio.

The World Bonnag Competitions, held at St James Church in Dalby, just before the spread of Covid-19 and government restrictions, still attracted a full house, although the number of entries for the competitions were down on previous years.

An evening of entertainment included Dot Tilbury and friends, compèred by Geoff Corkish, along with the presentation of cheques to last year's chosen charities (Mannin Sepsis and Pahar Trust Isle of Man) and introducing those for 2020 - Bees for Burundi and Alana's Gift, raising funds for the Special Unit at St John's School.