Phillip Leighton Stowell

Epithet: Folk dancer and Manx scholar (1897-1978)

Record type: Biographies

Biography: From ‘New Manx Worthies’ (2006):

P. Leighton Stowell was the youngest of six children (four boys and two girls) all born at the family home, 1 Queen Street, Castletown. His father earned his living as a painter and decorator but is best remembered as the author of an interesting book published in 1902 entitled Castletown a Hundred Years Ago, and as a painter of considerable talent in watercolours and oils. Flaxney Stowell's now scarce pictures, mainly landscapes of the south of the Island, are usually snapped up by discerning collectors and rarely reach the open market.

Leighton did not discuss his childhood years so we do not even know where he received his secondary education, but he qualified as a teacher at Chester College and returned to the Isle of Man on completion of his training, starting his teaching career at Albert Road School, Ramsey where, in his spare time, he conducted the school choir. It was while on a trip to the Albert Hall in London at this time that he became interested in country dancing. He resolved to learn about Manx dancing when he saw what other nations and English counties were doing to preserve and enjoy their old local traditions. He later took Manx teams to Albert Hall dance festivals where they evoked considerable interest and, because Leighton was a stickler for detail, were rewarded for their very high standards of performance.

He moved to teach at Victoria Road School, Castletown, on 24th March 1934 and finished his teaching career as headmaster of Ballasalla School.

Leighton was a keen gardener and walker and never learned to drive a car. He was of medium height and slight build and had the highly coloured complexion of an 'outdoor man'. His hair had turned silver whilst he was still quite young and, though he was quietly spoken, his temper was not to be trifled with. His scholars principally remember him for his accomplished drawings, tight discipline and the wide amount of knowledge he imparted of all things Manx.

He was undeniably idiosyncratic and had his own uncompromising opinions about the Island's past. He was adamant, for instance, that the place where William Christian (Illiam Dhone) was shot was not to be called 'Hango Hill' but simply 'Hango'. He also had a unique and firmly enforced rule about the pronunciation of `Viking'; it should be pronounced Vickingt, he said, and this belief was firmly entrenched into the minds of his pupils. His individuality in such matters went even wider than this. He abhorred children going from door to door at Hollantide singing (and only knowing) about three lines of the traditional Hop to Naa rhyme. Leighton had his own version; he taught it to his scholars and only those who turned up at his door and sang it through would be rewarded, but well! His version of The White Boys mummers' play also was not exactly the same as published versions. Although his ability to write or speak Manx Gaelic was not extensive, he nevertheless had a good knowledge of place names and Manx Gaelic names for fauna and flora. He was frequently consulted by people naming houses and even children.

He was a member of the Royal Horticultural Society, a keen bird watcher and a painter of wildlife.

Leighton was also one of the founder members of the Manx Folk Dance Society, formed on 7th September 1951, and he received an award from the Manx Music and Drama Festival (The Guild) in recognition of his services to Manx folk dancing. In 1969 he received a plaque commemorating 60 years of folk dancing.

He was awarded the Manannan Trophy in 1966, and received the Freedom of Castletown on 12th October 1972 in recognition of his services to the town and the Island.

He spent 50 years travelling around the Island's schools and church halls giving lectures on the Revd Thomas Edward Brown and reciting his works - this is not surprising as he was related to both T.E. Brown and Brown's wife, Amelia Stowell.

He played the church organ and piano and was choirmaster of the Castletown Primitive Methodist Chapel for over 35 years. He composed both music and words for hymns and carols. The Manx Folk Dance Society has published a book and cassette tape based on the dances he composed.

After retiring from teaching he led a very active life and was a particularly familiar figure in the summer months when he led guests from the Lorne House Methodist Holiday Home on walks as far afield as the Chasms and the Sound. Frequently the guests would take the train or a coach to Port St Mary to begin that trek but, if it were a fine day, Leighton would shun such luxuries and walk from Castletown to start the hike and frequently walk all the way back too.

Leighton was known as 'a Manxman's Manxman'. He died in 1978 and is buried in Malew Churchyard.

Biography written by Aileen Stowell Hall (daughter).

(With thanks to Culture Vannin as publishers of the book: Kelly, Dollin (general editor), ‘New Manx Worthies’, Manx Heritage Foundation/Culture Vannin, 2006, pp.433-5.)

Culture Vannin

#NMW

Gender: Male

Date of birth: 27 March 1897

Date of death: 17 March 1978

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