The Isle of Man Victorian Society 2026 Golden Anniversary Celebrations

Fifty Glorious Years

During the summer of 1976 a party of Victorian Society members from England came to the Island under the leadership of architect Marti Evans. Prior to coming they were put in touch with local historian 27 year old Peter Kelly of Onchan who rearranged part of their itinerary and guided them around Victorian Douglas  on foot. Twelve months later Peter and his young wife Ruth  called together four likeminded friends on the 1st October  and put forward the suggestion of forming  a Victorian Society  on the Island.

Sir John Betjeman had already agreed to be Patron and the Victorian Society in England were fully supportive of the idea  and so the Isle of Man Victorian Society was born. Peter was elected the founding  chairman and the number of members continued to grow by each monthly meeting.

Ruth was a member of the committee and eventually became secretary a position she has held for countless years. Peter served as chairman for two years  and since then has acted as Caseworker dealing with planning applications and is author of much of the society publications.

On Thursday 1st October this year many of the 300 plus members celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the Society with a lunch in the recently renovated Falcon’s Nest Hotel  in Port Erin where the visiting members of The Victorian Society of England stayed during their visit 51 years ago.

Towards the end of the meal  Peter gave details of how the society had celebrated its coming of age, its twenty fifth anniversary and also its 30th and 40th in each case with a special meal but in Douglas.

The current chairman Dave Martin proposed a toast to the society wishing it continued success in the coming years but then called upon Ruth and Peter to come forward . To the surprise of everyone present he presented them with an illuminated address in recognition of their devoted exemplary and dedicated  service over the past fifty years.

The address had been excellently painted by Colleen Corlett and was headed by the society logo which shows the head of the Jubilee Clock in Douglas which was presented to the town of Douglas by George W Dumbell on the occasion of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887. The fingers of the clock point to eleven o’clock illustrating that the society has stepped in to try and save Victorian and Edwardian buildings  often at the ‘eleventh hour’ in a similar way to its counterpart in the UK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There will be a chance for the public to learn more of the history and work of the Isle of Man Victorian Society on Saturday 31st October at the Manx Museum  at the annual joint lecture by MNH and IOM Vic Soc.at 2.30pm. The power point presentation will be given by Peter Kelly and admission is free to this event is open to the public.