Tributes paid to Guild stalwarts

'Extremely sad week' for the Guild.

Tributes are being paid to two stalwarts of the Manx Music Festival who have died.

Shirley Savage worked for many years as the competition's front-of-house steward.

Organisers said: "Nobody knew more about the running of our Festival than her. She knew all the competitors, the officials, the audiences, the teachers and the parents by name.

"Shirley had an amazing ability to work out timings, and could magically, and with her consistently good humour, offer advice on all manner of subjects from the quality of the tea in the café to who had won the classes (and occasionally who should have won!!)."

They added: "One thing is for sure – Shirley will be missed so much as our front-of-house at the Guild. 

"She always threatened that she would have to retire one day, whilst we would beg her not to. Whilst we never got the opportunity to give her a retirement gift, we hope she knows how well-thought of she was by us all.

"Quite simply, as four times Cleveland Medal Winner Mandy Griffin said, 'we love Shirley'."

Meanwhile, David Cowley held the post of Guild Secretary between 2008 and 2014.

In another post on social media, organisers said: "In a period where performers have been frantically considering their entries, asking questions and gathering together music and scripts; many of us recall times when we would be dashing up to former secretary, David Cowley’s, house in Cronk-Y-Berry before the midnight deadline to drop off our entries! This was before the days we could do it online.

"It often became quite a social affair, as everyone tried to park up and, if they bumped into each other, would have a little chat. David (and Val) would be keeping their beady eyes open for ‘offenders’! But sometimes the door would swing open if they heard the lid of ‘the box’ rattle and a couple of times I even got a cup of tea at 10.30pm or so!"

They added: "He had tremendous knowledge and was part of the Executive Committee as it went through an era of real change, going from a simple organisation to having Company/Charity status.

"I know for a fact that David was a highly organised person, not only in his Guild Secretary role, but in his personal life. Everything was dated and in files. His personal garage was even a Guild office/store! He always gave selflessly and tirelessly to the Festival.

"Right until his passing, he was attending Choir rehearsals and, whilst we mourn his loss, it is lovely comfort to know that he was so active and happy until the end, doing what he most enjoyed with his friends.

"We send our sincere condolences to Val, Gemma, Ollie, Ted and Alex. We are thinking of them and remembering David fondly."

In 2014, as David retired, Manx Radio's own Judith Ley said: “Huge thanks for all the support, advice, encouragement you have both given me – and to all the Guild “family”. We will miss you”.

The event organisers have passed on their sincere condolences to the families of both, saying they will be missed by all involved.