Walter Clarke

Walter Clarke

2001

The Reih Bleeaney Vanannan for 2001 went to Walter Clarke, in recognition of his contribution to Manx culture by recording the last native Manx speakers.

In the 1950s, Walter realised that the language of our forefathers was in danger of quietly slipping away without anyone noticing. At the time of this realisation, he was away from the Island on National service in the Navy but on his return he joined like-minded individuals Charlie Craine, Bill Radcliffe, Mark Braide and Doug Fargher, who had already begun the work of recording conversations with the last native speakers.

Walter was brought up in Bark Lane, Old Ramsey, and had spent many happy days with his grandfather, a retired sea captain, at Cooil Bane, Sulby. 'Grandfather had lots of Manx, so it came to me quite naturally' he said. Travelling round the countryside on bicycles, the language enthusiasts would spend hours with the old people, learning the language as they went along.

'We got as much as we could with the [recording] resources we had, and very little outside encouragement,' he recalls. 'But once the old people realised we were serious, they trusted us. They were very shy of the microphone at first, but some took to it like a duck to water.’

Among those recorded were Jackie Kneen ‘the Gaaue’ (blacksmith) from Ballaugh; Tommy Leece, of Kerrowkeeil, who had been a miner at Glen Rushen; Eleanor Karran and the fisherman Ned Maddrell, both from Cregneash.

For 37 years, Walter worked as a technician at the Manx Museum. He was largely instrumental in creating the Folk Life gallery, and collected materials and artefacts from all over the Island in a bid for authenticity. In the 1960s, Walter revived the teaching of Manx in Ramsey with a series of popular evening classes, and was also in demand for giving slide-shows and talks.

Walter transcribed the tapes of the native Manx speakers into English, and donated them to the museum:

‘It's slow work, but I enjoy doing it because it takes me back and ™I'm with the old people, sitting by the hearth again. But it also makes me sad, because their like is not about any more. There's something about the character that has been lost. They were remarkable people. They led a hard life, but they weren't bothered with stress. Time wasn't money like it is today. None of them had travelled very much, except to the fair in Douglas, but they were much more contented than people are today.’

Walter passed away in 2007 aged 78, but will be long remembered for his passion and dedication to keeping the Manx language alive.