Beatrice Quirk

Two conversations with Beatrice Quirk, about her early life in Peel working at her mother's cafe on the promenade through the war years, and then focussed on her time running a hotel in Douglas.

The first interview was recorded in 2011 and concentrates on Bea's early life. Her time at Peel Clotheworkers School was successful despite the life-threatening interruption of diptheria which saw her isolated at the White Hoe. At 14 she left school to help at her mother's business, Grainger's Cafe, close to the Marine Hotel on Peel Promenade.
The war years were more remarkable, as the establishment of Peveril Internment Camp in the city left Grainger's as effectively the only remaining venue for meals and events. Food supplies, work, meals, cooking, rationing and more are discussed in detail, as well as their ice cream which had people queuing down the street.
Bea then goes on to discuss other aspects of life in Peel at that time, such as the fishing industry, chapel & church, poverty, music, early car journeys, characters and friends. She then talks about her marriage and professional life outside of Peel, first at The Crown in Ramsey and then joining her mother at the Carrick Bay Hotel in Port St Mary, before going on to live all over the Island.

Interviews

When you click play on one of the interviews below there will be a slight delay as the audio file is downloaded. Large files or slow internet connections will increase the length of this delay.

• Beatrice Quirk interviewed by Elizabeth Ardern-Corris (15 December 2011)