[From IoM Examiner Annual 1936]

MR. T. C. CLUCAS, M.H.K.,

was elected a member of the House of Keys for Middle Sheading at a bye-election held in October, and caused through the elevation of Mr. C. Gill to the Legislative Council. It was his first entry into the political arena, and though he came into the contest at the eleventh hour his vigorous campaign and his simple and direct enunciation of policy won the confidence of electors and .enabled him to defeat his Labour opponent, Mr. Gerald Bridson, by a substantial majority. A solid reputation for hard work and progressive outlook is the chief asset which Mr. Clucas brings with him into the Legislature. He commenced his working life as a half-timer, and by dint of energy and enterprise he acquired a business of his own while still a young man. That business has become a household word in the Island — Clucas's Laundry is counted as a model industrial establishment, and the large staff is a most contented set of employees. This is primarily due to Mr. Clucas's genial personality, his high sense of what is fair and just, and his encouragement of sports and other social activities among his employees. For several years, Mr. Clucas has served upon the Food Council, a body appointed by the Governor under the Food Regulation Act, and he is the type of man who will probably be more helpful in actual committee work than on the floor of the House.

VERY REV. CANON T. CROOKALL, V.P.,

of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Douglas, has spent over thirty-three years ministering to the spiritual needs of Catholics in the Isle of Man. By a remarkable coincidence, Sunday, August 4th, marked the anniversary of three important occasions in his life and the history of St. Mary's. It was the anniversary of the ordination of Canon Crookall, the anniversary of the first day he preached at St. Mary's, and the anniversary of the founding of St. Mary's Church, The Canon was ordained at the Church of the English Martyrs, Preston, by the late Bishop O'Reilly, of Liverpool, on the 4th August, 1889. On the 4th August, 1902, he occupied the pulpit at St. Mary's for the first time, and he has been in charge of the parish here ever since. During the war his parish was very considerably extended ; when the prisoners of war camp was established at Knockaloe he was appointed priest in charge at the camp, and his captive flock of many thousands endured their misfortunes with greater fortitude than might otherwise have been the case without the influence of his loveable Lancashire character. He has greatly extended the Catholic faith in the Island, and is held in deep esteem by the peoples of other faiths throughout the Isle of Man.

MR. THOMAS BAKER COWLEY, J.P.,

who has again been elected to represent Ramsey (along with Mr. J. B. Clague, J.P.) on the Isle of Man Education Authority, is one of the Island's leading educationalists, and his record of service on the Authority is one which has earned for him the warm confidence and unstinted appreciation of his colleagues. His contribution to the public life of the Island was recognised in 1930, when he was made a Justice of the Peace. He has served three terms on the Authority, of which he is an ex-chairman, has been a governor of the Ramsey Grammar School, and though he has often been spoken of as a House of Keys candidate, only once in his earlier days did he seek this honour, and he was then in the ranks of the defeated. He was appointed to the Unemployment Registration Advisory Committee, and was also appointed a Captioning Authority, and is a prominent Member of the Isle of Man Employers' Federation. Mr. Cowley is one of the Island's leading merchants, his firm — Corlett Sons & Cowley Limited — being known throughout the Island. He is an ardent Methodist, and comes of an old Methodist family, having been a local preacher for many years. His interest in the Strand Street Mission Hall is well-known.

MR. HENRY KELLY

was elected a member of the Isle of Man Education Authority for Port Erin and Port St. Mary at the quinquennial election in November. He is the eldest son of Mr. W.A. Kelly, J.P.. M.H.K., and Mrs. Kelly, of Ballaqueeney, Port St. Mary, and is the youngest member of the Authority — he is only 26 years old. He was educated at the old Castletown Grammar School and King William's College, and was admitted to the Manx Bar in 1932; he is at present in practice in partnership with his uncle, Mr. H. Percy Kelly, the Deputy Coroner. Political affairs have interested him since boyhood, and he has made a number of able speeches from his father's platform during two House of Keys election campaigns. For the past five years he has been a Steward at Bay View Road Methodist Church, Port St. Mary, and at the first meeting of the Education Authority after the election he was elected a member of the Advisory Committee on Religious Instruction as representative for the Free Churches. He is the unusual combination of earnest student and keen sportsman. Standing on the threshold of his public career, he appears to be well endowed with the qualities most essential to the man entrusted with public duties.

LIEUT.-COMMANDER A. J. PARKES, J.P., O.B.E., R.N.,

has the unequalled distinction of serving as A.-D.-C.— an appointment by warrant — to three successive Governors of the Island. His real claim to distinction, however, rests on political service rendered in a host of ways to public bodies and semi-official organisations of varying character. At the close of a very meritorious naval career he settled down in the Isle of Man and was rapidly drawn into movements of great social usefulness. In matters of health and education he has laboured indefatigably. Since the formation of the Red Cross Society in the Island he has been the hon. secretary, and holds a similar office with the Health Council. He was principally responsible for establishing two Rural Nursing Associations in the Island, and is engaged in forming a third in the south of the Island. A member of the Education Authority for many years, he has been chairman of the Schools Medical Committee for four years — a record period — and to him is due credit for initiating a scheme for educating the deaf and dumb. He has worked ardently for the attainment of the objects of the British Legion, founded a branch in Ballaugh and is chairman of that branch and member of the Legion Executive in the Island.

MR. WALTER JENKINSON

was elected member of the Isle of Man Education Authority for Peel, in succession to Mr. A. J. Ridge, J.P., in November. He is eminently qualified to discuss and determine matters of educational policy, for his life has been spent in the teaching profession, and his experience has been wide and varied. A native of the Yorkshire dales, he became a scholar at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School at Wakefield, and embarked on his teaching career as a pupil teacher at Trinity Boys' School, Wakefield. His zeal for public service impelled him to take active interest in the work of different boards and organisations when he came to Peel to retire a few years ago, and within a short time his knowledge and experience had won for him a commanding position in the public life of the "Sunset City." A list of his offices reads :— Chairman of the Peel Town Commissioners, 1930 to 1934; President of the Peel Advertising Board, 1930 to 1933 ; President of the Isle of Man Municipal Association, 1934; President of the Peel Rifle Club, 1934-1935 ; President of the Peel Branch of the St. John Ambulance Association, 1930 to 1935; vice-President of the Peel Branch of the British Legion; and Secretary for the Peel "Work for the Workless" Committee.