News

World Manx Association Centenary

Fastyr Mie!

As the World Manx Association will be celebrating its Centenary this year, I thought I would take this opportunity to update you on the events we have in place to commemorate this milestone as well as details of the Centenary Literary/Media Competition and Centenary Book and CD, which we hope our overseas friends will participate and contribute towards.

Our main events will take place in Tynwald Week (1st – 8th July)and are outlined below:

Friday 1st July –
Welcome Reception for Homecomers and Members

Saturday 2nd July –
Annual Gathering and Dinner. Sefton Hotel, Douglas. d We are hoping to organize a link – up with other societies around the world and the award ceremony for our Centenary Literary/Media Competition will take place. (This could interest members of our overseas societies – please see further details below)

Sunday 3rd July –
Homecomers Service. The Nunnery Grounds, Douglas. The service will be take place in the Marquee, after the Governors Garden Party and will be taken by John Kennaugh, with Crosby Silver Band and local choir, Encore.

Monday 4th July –
Tour,visiting various places of historical interest associated with the WMA and Civic Reception.

(Tuesday 5th July Tynwald Day)

Wednesday 6th – Centenary Concert. Promeanade Suite, Villa Marina , Douglas.
Evening concert featuring some of the best Manx singers and the poetry of TE Brown, narrated by John Kennaugh.

Thursday 7th July – Further Tour and Civic Reception

Friday 8th July – Farewell recpetion for Homecomers and Members.

Should anyone be contemplating a trip to the Island at this time, Regency Travel have put together a complete travel package incorporating the events as above. They can be contacted at sales@regencytravelholidays.com

Centenary Award:

Details of our Literary/Media Centernary Award are as follows and entries from anyone oversesas are most welcome:

The theme for the award is “Manx in the Media”.
It is open to two age groups 11-15yrs of age, and 16-25 yrs of age.

The participants can create a short film, an interview, or literature, to promote the Isle of Man, or additionally for those offshore to highlight their ancestors plight leaving the IOM and what being Manx means to them.

First and second prize in each age group. IOM & Offshore. (8 prizes in all)

First prize £150, second prize £75

Entries to be received by the WMA by May 1st 2011

We hope these Centenary Awards will be the first of what will become annual awards, which will not only be a lasting memorial to the World Manx Association but help many youngsters to develop their potential in this field.

Lastly our Centenary Book and CD still need contributions from members from other societies. We would really like to hear from anyone who could send us an account – either by CD or the written word, of how they came to emigrate, their first impressions of their new home, why they decided to emigrate, details of family members and what part of the Island their famil originally came from. We hope this will be another lasting memorial of our Centenary,

Details of all our events, souvenirs etc will shortly be on our Website.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this and may I wish you all very happy and healthy 2011.

Kind regards,

Carol Gray (Sec WMA)