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Monologue by John Watterson reading Manx dialect poems and recalling the shops in Port St Mary

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Date(s): 1992

Scope & Content: Track 1: Mr Watterson reads mainly humorous Manx dialect poems by Kathleen Faragher. He reads ‘At The Fair', recounting drunken escapades on Tynwald Hill; ‘Putting A Sight On Betsy Next Door’, also featuring Tynwald Day; ‘The Manx Afternoon’, adventures preparing bonnag for a Women’s Institute tea; ‘The Stranger’, a more serious poem about belonging to the Isle of Man; and a poem that begins 'Hi Lizzie', relating gossip about mishaps on the way to the mart.

Track 2: Mr Watterson surveys the shops in Port St Mary and compares them with those he remembers from the 1920s (the subject of an earlier recording); he lists current and previous shops, their functions and proprietors; changing use over the years; number of premises now closed, especially on the High Street it having been a busy retail area up until the 1940s; suggests reasons for its demise including the fact that the port is no longer visited by Scottish fishing boats, Steam Packet cargo vessels and coal boats; and he observes that cars and buses have also made it easier for people to travel to Douglas for shopping.

Language: eng

Extent: 52 min. 49 sec.

Item name: cassette tape

Collection: Sound Archive

Level: ITEM

ID number: SA 0382

Access conditions: All reasonable attempt has been made by Manx National Heritage to trace and request permission (where needed) from the copyright holder(s) in this sound recording. If however you think you are a rights holder then please contact Manx National Heritage.

Subject tags : #UOSH

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