The annual springtime lunch was again held at The Grosvenor Hotel in Andreas. Taking place on 24th May the guest speaker was David Cretney, former MHK and MLC. David was Minister for Tourism and Leisure 1996 - 2006 and Minister for Community, Culture and Leisure 2010 - 2011. He gained the nickname The Minister of Fun. He had in fact been a part time DJ in his younger days and once took part in the Douglas Carnival riding along on a motorised WC.
For his talk he chose entertainment in the Isle of Man starting in Victorian times when the tourist trade was gaining momentum, resulting in places of entertainment being built for use as ballrooms and variety entertainment pavilions. Names of artists in those days were not as recognisable as in Edwardian times when Vesta Tilley and Florrie Forde were household names associated with the Isle of Man in the summer season. In the post war period dance bands were the thing with Joe Loss playing in the Villa Marina for several seasons. At the same time Ivy Benson and her 'All Girl Band' played in the Villa Marina Gardens in the day time to thousands of visitors sitting in deck chairs. At the Palace Ballroom Ronnie Aldrich and the Squadronaires were the resident band from 1952 -1963 and also played in the gardens in the afternoons 1960 - 1962.
By now pop music had become what was wanted and Sounds Incorporated became the resident band at The Palace Ballroom and both pop singers and groups played on selected nights. Artists included the Rolling Stones which necessitated the police dog Rex to keep fans off the stage. Tom Jones appeared as did Alvin Stardust, Mud, the Rubettes, Pink Floyd, The Who and The Applejacks with a female bass guitarist. The ballroom was however still used for several years for the International Old Time Dance Festival. As time went on discotheques became the in thing and what had now become the Palace Lido was the Discotheque of the Year in 1986. It was also used for a number of broadcasts of The Hit Man and Her when Pete Waterman described the Lido as a huge barn of a building. The Cave Disco in Summerland was popular in the rebuild after the devastating fire. Set in the basement of the building it was for a while renamed Nemo's Cave and had false rivets added to the steelwork to give the impression of a huge submarine.
The photograph show Edgar Cowin, Captain of the Parish of Ballaugh, thanking David for his talk which brought back many memories for the audience.
