Papers of Eileen O'Hanlon and family
Date(s): mid 20th century
Creator(s): various
Scope & Content: Contents comprise a Douglas High School for Girls report book, 1940-1946, a covering letter dated 13 December 1940 from J W Gelling, Braddan School enclosing half a crown for gaining a place on the scholarship list (a gift from William Cubbon of Rushen School House, Port St Mary), Eileen's diary for the calendar year of 1944, an autograph book, two Valentine cards, two letters from a RN Signalman and a letter from brother Joseph (Joe) at the Grove Store to Eileen recounting purchase of and work on an old motorbike by their brother Brian, November 1952. Also a letter fron Port Erin Commissioners acknowledging her letter regarding planting trees to disguise the Shoprite and community centre areas of the village, 11 May 1978, a letter from Isle of Man Board of Education offering her the position of Head of Mathematics at Peel Secondary School with effect from 1 September 1979 (16 January 1979),a certificate confirming her appointment as and a Lifetime Pass to in house productions at the Centenary Centre, Peel (Eileen assisted with book-keeping) and newscutting about her retirement presentation at the Centenary Centre; also a newscutting featuring an image of Eileen with others helping at St John's Methodist Hall on Tynwald Day 2000 with the caption 'A very successful day. A memento. Thanyou £2251.60 profit July 2000'.
Assorted loose photographs retained with MS 15340 include a family group outside Castle Rushen (1938), Eileen photographed in costume in the studio of Miss M Kirton, Brian O'Hanlon as a child in the back garden, Eileen and brother Joe (studio portrait), Eileen in her graduating robes, Peter Saunders and wife Shelagh nee O'Hanlon (sister) in Peel (1962); also photographs on album pages of Eileen in Sea Ranger uniform, studio portraits of HMS St George cadets and a sailor, HMS St George Rugby 1st XI group portrait and naval guard of honour for Tynwald 1945, St Johns Ambulance Corps 1945, St Ninian's Guides on outing in 1945, Tynwald Fair photograph featuring Eileen's father John and onlookers, a family group snapped with the old Stores bus, 1948 and Eileen pictured coxing a rowing crew whilst a university student. Also a group portrait of staff at QEII secondary school.
Administration / Biographical History: Eileen Margaret O'Hanlon (Eileen) was born on 20 January 1929. She lived with family (siblings Brian, Joe and Shelagh) at The Groves Stores, Spring Valley, run by her father John, later moving to 3 Farrant Street, Douglas. Her grandparents bought Ballamoar farm, Lower Foxdale, later the home of Joe and Susan O'Hanlon. A grandfather lived at 12 Farrant St.
She was awarded a scholarship to attend Douglas High School for Boys 6th form to study Pure and Applied Mathematics and Physics. She was accepted onto a physics course but pursued mathematics at Queen Mary College (later University), London where she was active in its Union Society as well as coxing for rowing crews. Eileen was awarded a 2:1 BSc degree.
Following graduation from Queen Mary College, London, she worked at the British Museum, and as a Scientific Officer was involved in the creation of the National Lending Library for Science and Technology and its relocation from London to Boston Spa in Yorkshire. Eileen's career included teaching at the William Ellis School, North London and Channing School,Highgate where she was Head of Mathsmathematics. Widowed during pregnancy, in the 1970s Eileen returned to the Isle of Man with her young daughter Vicky and taught at Castle Rushen High School before moving to set up the maths department at the new Queen Elizabeth High School, Peel. She left teaching as GCSEs came, in working part time at the Copy Shop, Bucks Road, Douglas and for Probus [Holdings Ltd] as share registrar. In retirement, she devoted time to the Centenary Centre, Peel as a volunteer doing all the accounts.. In later years she had macular degeneration and glaucoma affecting her eyesight.
Eileen died in Peel in 2015, aged 86.
Language: English
Extent: 1 folder
Item name: diary, autograph book, letters, valentine cards, photographs etc
Collection: Manuscript Archive
Level: FONDS
ID number: MS 15340
Record class: Private
Access conditions: No regulations or restrictions are implemented on this material. Advance notification of a research visit is advisable by emailing library@mnh.im