taking our culture forward

A Manx language conversation with Leslie Quirk RBV (1914 - 2004).

After reading a prepared script about his life, he is in conversation with Steve Blackburn and Phil Kelly.

Topics discussed include the following:

  • Farming at Ballawattleworth in the 1930s.
  • Leaving King William's College to join his father and brother Walter on the farm.
  • The collapse of farming industry.
  • Helping on a milk round and looking after animals.
  • Ploughing: types of ploughs and ploughing methods; how his older brother, Walter (Kione Doo), did the difficult work; the five-year crop rotation; ploughing in November.
  • Selling produce to dealers.
  • Cars: Percy Kissack's Vauxhall / Bullnose Morris, learning to drive, Tommy Frost's garage in Peel, obtaining a driving licence.
  • Ballasalla Mart, selling lambs.
  • Potatoes unwanted, given away free.
  • 1933 - 1934 very poor farming years, when many turned to fishing.
  • The Manx words for fish, fluke / sole.

This oral history recording with Leslie Quirk was made by Steve Blackburn and Phil Kelly RBV at Yn Dhonnag, St Judes.

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.

  • Leslie Quirk RBV in conversation with Steve Blackburn and Phil Kelly (1990s)