The March lunch was attended by 36 members, by Norman Quilliam of Douglas Probus Club, and by our Speakers, Peter Farrant and Kit Gawne. The meeting started with a Special General Meeting at which John Christal was unanimously approved as our new Hon Secretary, taking over from Ian Wells who is First Vice President. Membership badge and pin was presented to Don O’Hara.
Peter Faraant was born in 1924 and is therefore the oldest Speaker who has ever addressed our Club. In collaboration with Kit Gawne, Peter used the extensive Farrant papers in order to research the story of his family which owned extensive estates in the north of the Island (i.e. Ballamoar in Jurby and Ballakillinghan in Lezayre). Concentrating mainly on Peter's grandfather, William (born 1826).
Peter and Kit have co-written the 2013 book entitled “Dear Sir, The Life and Letters of a Manxman, William Farrant”. Our Speakers concentrated on William's time on one of his many Grand Tours of Europe. He was in the Crimea during the historic spring of 1855 and Peter read from his grandfather's vivid descriptions of the aftermath of the famous battles whilst Kit provided the linking narrative.
A truly memorable talk. How things have changed. Back in the 1850's an ordinary tourist could apply to the Embassy, present his passport, and thereby be allowed to visit the war front and enjoy a picnic whilst sitting on a safe hill to watch the action. William became a social reformer and eventually returned to the Island to energetically farm his estates and to later become a member of the House of Keys
Meetings take place at Ramsey Golf Club on the second Wednesday of the month. Membership is open to professional and businessmen aged 50 or over who have fully or partially retired from their profession or business and are resident in the north of the Isle of Man. If you want to find out more please contact the Club Coordinator, Bernard Pile on 817349 or by email to sueber@manx.net.
The next lunch will be on Wednesday 8th April 2015 at Ramsey Golf Club, when the guest speaker will be Katie King whose topic will be “This Terrible Ordeal – The I.O.M. In WW1”.
