News

Homecomers

 Left to right: 
James Corlett, President of the North American Manx Association, Peter
Kelly, President of the World Manx Association and Colonel Kevin Williams,
President of the Southern African Manx Association.

The recent centenary celebrations of the World Manx Association saw
“Homecomers” making their way to the Island from the U.S.A., Australia, New
Zealand, South Africa, Dubai, Luxembourg as well as from the London,
Barrow-in-Furness, Manchester and Liverpool Manx Societies. A whole week of
special events were laid on for the visitors and local members including
visits to properties that have been used as the venue for the “Annual
Gatherings” during the past hundred years such as Great Meadow, Ballaquane,
Rushen Abbey and The Nunnery. Another special visit was to Douglas Town Hall
where annual general meetings used to take place in the early days of the
association. The representatives were made most welcome by His Worship the
Mayor, Councillor Mr Ritchie McNicoll and Mrs McNicoll. Peter Kelly gave a
history of the Town Hall building whilst the Mayor told something of his
predecessors. 


Pictured are three Presidents signing the visitors’ book in the Mayor’s parlour. Both visiting presidents were presented with a painting of a horse tram whilst the mayor gave Peter Kelly a pair of cufflinks bearing the town crest in recognition of his hard work in putting together a programme of events for the homecomers.