In September 1963 a boy called Jerry started at St Joseph’s Convent of Mercy in Finch Road, Douglas. Then in April 1964 a boy called John joined the school and the two choirboys became firm friends…even though, according to John, ‘Jerry was six months cleverer.’
The convent may be no more and their school uniforms replaced by pinstriped suits but the friendship between advocate Jerry Carter and accountant John Cowan of Crowe Clark Whitehill has endured for 50 years.
There was a double cause for celebration, though, at the end of 2014 as it also marked 30 years since they qualified in their respective professions, Jerry with Kelly Luft and John with what was then Pannell Kerr Forster.
John left St Joseph’s to attend St Mary’s Roman Catholic School, then in Buck’s Road, to be joined one year later by Jerry. The pair were then in the first cohort of pupils when the ‘new’ St Mary’s opened in 1968 off Ballaquayle Road.
Reflecting on the past half decade Jerry said: ‘At St Mary’s primary school it’s fair to say we were probably two of the brightest pupils.’
‘Even though we excelled at dodging lessons,’ said John.
The friendship continued beyond the school curriculum. ‘Our teacher, Miss Leadley, whom many will recall, thought we were good influences on each other; we were something of a double act, writing and staging shows,’ said John.
Aged 11 John went to Ballakermeen High School and Jerry to King William’s College.
John said: ‘We drifted apart then and went on to pursue our respective careers at university but by the mid-1980s we were back “home”, both having chosen to make an investment in the future of the Isle of Man. It was then that we discovered we’d qualified in the same year, 1984.
‘We couldn’t escape from each other - or from former Coroner Malcolm Kelly - because in 1992 the three of us joined forces to get what was then Age Concern Isle of Man, now Age Isle of Man, off the ground. We were all involved with the charity for five years, then Jerry left but I carried on for another 15 years.’
The pair say they have seen big changes in the Island over the past 30 years. ‘Our generation’s been very lucky,’ said John.
'Since then the Island’s seen some good times – the late 80s, mid-90s and early 2000s – as well as bad times. But now the Island – and the world – has changed and I doubt whether future generations will be able to derive quite the same level of enjoyment out of their careers as we had…and are still having.
‘Looking back we were driven and focused, striving tremendously hard for success and paying scant attention to the concept of work/life balance.’
‘Like so many of our generation, we only went home when the job was finished,’ said Jerry.
And when asked whether the Isle of Man is a better place now than 30 years ago, the pair offered an unequivocal ‘yes’.
‘We’ve so much shared history and a great deal to be grateful to the Isle of Man for, especially in terms of giving us a great start in life with a good education,’ said John.
Their friendship looks set to continue, ‘Even though I’ve had to deal with John being an Everton fan for so many years,’ said Jerry.
‘50 years on we’re still here and we’re still friends and if there were one piece of advice we would pass on it’s “Don’t take yourself too seriously.”’
Postscript:
In 1969 John lent Jerry four pence, Jerry argued about the veracity of the loan…and at that moment their career paths were determined.
Photo - John Cowan and Jerry Carter. Picture Andrew Barton.
