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The Editor
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© F.Coakley , 2026
[from A.M Harrision's Descriptive List of Insular Societies]
In October 1895 J.J.Cowin, a Manxman living in London, inquired in the Isle of Man Times for the names and addresses of gentlemen resident in London willing to assist in establishing a 'Manx Gathering'in that city. The Isle of Man Times editorially backed the initiative on behalf of the 'hundreds of Manxmen in London, who have no rallying point either for social intercourse or mutual assistance'. With a characteristic admission of provincial timidity that 'to be alone in London is not a pleasant experience, for Londoners are not social people, but cold and distant with strangers to a degree unknown perhaps in any other part of the world', it was considered that the formation of a Manx Society in London might if properly carried out, achieve many useful objects both for Manx residents in London and Manx folk visiting the English capital.
The objects of the society, 'to preserve and revive local friendships and reminiscences, and to give advice to Manx people in London', were adopted by a General meeting of nine women and fourteen men on 15 January 1896. The first year's events were an unspecified musical evening in March, an unspecified conversazione in June, a business meeting in October and a dinner at the Guildhall Tavern on Hollantide (Hallowee'n) night. 1897, in contrast, was remarkable for the ground-breaking lecture-recital of Manx National Music in Westminster Town Hall, assisted by 'eminent artistes' and a chorus of 60 voices.
William Radcliffe's Annals of the London Manx Society, gives an interesting account of the mix of elements of education and entertainment which made up the society's programme until the end of 1912. Dances, whist drives, smoking concerts, amateur theatricals were all a standard part of the social content, usually the majority of society activities, with which more serious 'educational lectures vied for inclusion The lectures varied in tone and Manx relevance, the spectrum extending through topics like 'Manx wit and humour', 'How Manxmen have helped to make history' to standard lectures on the Manx language and the works of T.E.Brown,; the occasional fill-ins of 'Undergraduate life at Cambridge', 'An evening with Shakespeare', Captain Logsdail 'On the Hadji' contrasting with the serious work of the impassioned Manx patriot, the designer, Archibald Knox, founder of the League of St. Germain, temporarily living in London, who addressed the society on his chief Manx interest, 'The locality of the residence in Mann of the Kings of Man and the Isles,' and the Manx historian, A.W.Moore, to whose talk on 'The connexion between the Irish and Manx peoples', a reflection of his Pan-Celtic enthusiasm given to the Irish Literary Society in London, Manx Society members were invited.
The committee was also concerned with the maintenance of membership levels and the profile of the society. The tasks of outreach and consciousness-raising, gargantuan for such a minority society in the vastness of London, were pursued wherever possible, usually based on the activities of the most eminent Manxmen of the hour, in 1899 the Manx mayor of Mafeking, Mr. Clucas, being praised for 'the splendid manner in which he was upholding the credit of Ellan Vannin in the face of terrible dangers'. 'Fresh efforts' were always required to extend the use of the Benevolent branch and its fund. No financial details are given but at least one 'stranded Manxman' was returned to his native Island.
Basically a middle class society with middlebrow cultural interests run by middle class men and women the Society provided a social haven for the expatriate Manx and a continuous reminder of the culture of the Island. This formula has kept the Society alive for 101 years and may still be successful in the 21st century.
M.N.N.L., Isle of Man newspapers, passim
William Radcliffe, 'Annals of the London Manx Society' Ellan Vannin Magazine no. 4, pp. 205-209.
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Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received
The Editor |
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