[from Proc IoMNH&ASoc vol2 #2 1923]

MEETING AT DOUGLAS, 21 JANUARY, 1915.

The following were elected members :-Rev. R, B. Jolley, Mr. W. A, Kelly and Mrs. G. B. Gelling.

The Balladoole skull, referred to at the previous meeting, was exhibited, and Mr. Cubbon explained that the Cist in which the remains were found was in the field above Strandhall, on the rising ground opposite the Balladoole Chapel-of-ease. He read letters from Dr. Keith, who regarded the skull as a ' representative type of the ancient Celtic-speaking British.

It is probably pre-Christian; partakes of the later period of Roman occupation . . two of the teeth show excavation by caries, a rare condition to find in pre-Roman Britons.' In a later letter, he called attention to Laing's ' Prehistoric Caithness,' where it appeared ' the Neolithic or Early Bronze inhabitants in the far north buried their dead exactly as your man was buried.' It had been the skull of a tall man in the prime of life, over six feet in height, and with a brain capacity rather greater than that of the average male Englishman of to-day.

Some members of the Society had been considering the desirability of marking in some way the centenary of the birth of Edward Forbes, and Mr. Kermode had now received a letter from the President of the London Manx Society, who also proposed to have a celebration in London. The matter was discussed and a Committee appointed, consisting of Lord Raglan, Deemster Callow, The President, Mr, W. Cubbon, Rev. J. Davidson and Mr. Kermode, to consider in what way this Society should celebrate the event, and how best it could be carried out.

Mr. Cubbon, on behalf of the Manx Society, and Mr. W. A, Crame, on behalf of the World Manx Association, offered to join in any steps to be taken for the purpose.

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received MNB Editor HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2008