Interview with Mrs Kathleen Gore about her 1920s holidays in the Isle of Man
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Date(s): 1998, 1999
Creator(s): Manx Heritage Foundation
Scope & Content: Track 1: Kathleen Gore talks to John Beckerson about her holidays in the Isle of Man. Kathleen talks about her first holiday with the family aged 10 or 11; seasickness on boat; arrival at Douglas; bus to Peel; ‘Welcome to Peel’ sign in Manx Gaelic and impressions of narrow streets, harbour, smells and fresh air; contrast with Liverpool home; fun and simplicity of holidays; lifeboat day; castle sports days; tug of war with men from lifeboat team; rented house; days out and picnics; Auntie Jessie and Uncle Phil who built their house on the site of fisherman’s cottage; garden and proximity to the sea; quietness of beach and lack of motorcars; motorcars hoisted off the boat on arrival; father’s job at Liverpool University which brought him to the laboratory at Port Erin.
She recalls later holidays with son, Nicholas; boat journeys with Nicholas, sitting on deck, drinking Bovril; meal in Douglas before bus to Peel; porters and luggage; earlier visits with sister as a teenager; staying in Peel; cliff walks, wildflowers, picnics at Whitestrands; later coach tour with Nicholas around the island; family who ran the coaches (Faragher); waving to the fairies; Nicholas’ enjoyment of fishing; staying at Waldick House Guest House, Peel; proprietors Mrs Barlow and later Mrs Tarrant; meals; safety of children in Peel; cost of travel to the Isle of Man; holiday expenses in Peel; plainness of accommodation; rooms for sleeping in only; lifeboat call outs; visit by Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; Royal Navy frigate moored in Peel and sailors on island; ferry across Neb; typical day with Nicholas visiting Niarbyl and rock pooling.
Track 2: Kathleen Gore continues with memories of days out to the Calf of Man, Castletown, Ramsey Mooragh; taking cuttings from Mooragh park; visits to the Isle of Man during university days, staying with Auntie Jessie; meeting students from Liverpool and Manchester Universities; tennis matches, swimming, golf course, rowing boats, cricket matches on the beach; trip to Douglas for cinema; thrill of seeing Douglas Bay on arrival; colour of the heather and clarity of air; fishing with Uncle Phil around Peel Castle in the dark; Plymouth Brethren staying in Peel; Peel visitors; type of people in Douglas; Fenella’s Cove, watching sunset; Nicholas' holiday romance with a girl from Derbyshire; Waldick House next to bowling green and tennis courts; Mr Kelly the town clerk; booking and bath arrangements at Waldick House; family who went out for scampi every night after their meal; honesty of Manx people and anecdote about lost handbag; sports days organised by Salvation Army; Lifeboat Day; costume race for men; hoax lifeboat call out involving the Royal Navy frigate moored at Peel; last day of the holidays; considering moving to the Isle of Man; journey home by boat and stopping off in places in England on the way back; the safety and ‘pleasant company’ in the Isle of Man.
Administration / Biographical History: Kathleen Gore (née Garner) was born 13 May 1914. John Beckerson, researcher, born 1974.
Language: English
Extent: 53 min. 46 sec.
Item name: cassette tape
Collection: Sound Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: SA 2019-0001/11
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, #UOSHHolidays