What a great way to start our second week of Manx nostalgia on Women Today! Our studio guests were Dominic Delaney and Ian Clague MBE We found out how Dominic got the nickname "Dancer" and learned that Ian took up playing a brass instrument after hearing the theme to Monty Python's Flying Circus!
There were stories of great competitions for Carnival Bands and Dancers which became so popular that they attracted around 800 children to the Island each summer. There were some Millennium stories too (from 1979) and let's not forget the reason why those two men in blue suits were sent up to Douglas Head ... !
We LOVE to get YOUR memories too - thank you to everyone who sent texts and emails during the show, and to Brenda Stevenson in Orrisdale who wrote to share some of her precious memories - She remembers visiting the Island with her beloved Dad when she was around 5 years old. At Signpost Corner, young Brenda was told to sit still, on the wall, as very soon she would see Freddie Dixon coming along in his white Riley racing car. Also racing that day was Prince Bira - a true Prince from Siam's royal family - who was known also as Siam's Prince of Racing. Dad told Brenda that Freddie would be coming into sight very soon, and in her excitement she fell backwards off the wall and into the field, and by the time she was hauled up again - Freddie was long gone! (incidentally, Freddie Dixon was one of the few to be successful on 2 wheels, 3 wheels and 4 wheels - as he raced cars, motorcycles and sidecar outfits too) Brenda remembers another visit some years later, when her family stayed at Studley House, owned by a certain Mr and Mrs Cringle. They were very busy with guests so Brenda's Mum and Dad suggested that their young son Terry could come out with them on their sight-seeing trips. Brenda says she has a lovely photo of her, her brother Derek, and Terry Cringle wearing racing goggles! Says Brenda "I was quite fascinated!"
And finally, Brenda recalls visiting Miss Cottier in her Fashion House in Parliament Street in Ramsey. Miss Cottier asked if Brenda would like to enter her fashion show, and after a little training with the other girls, Brenda was ready to take part in a fashion show to be held in the Pool Ballroom (in the Beach Hotel) in Ramsey. Before the show, all the girls' names were put into a hat to see who would be the "bride" and wear the wedding dress in the fashion show. Brenda's name came out of the hat, and she was asked if she would like to meet her "groom" - one of the lads from R.A.F. Jurby. "It was love at first sight" writes Brenda "he was tall, dark and handsome, and the outcome of this was that we were married twice in 8 months - the first "marriage" was in the fashion show, and the second one was in real life!" THANK YOU, Brenda, for these lovely stories. Do you have memories to share ?
