Isle of Man – Laxey Waterwheel and Douglas
In July 2022 I went on a nostalgic coach tour holiday to the Isle of Man (IOM). It was where I met my dear late Scottish wife, Christeen, on holiday in July 1967, almost 55 years to the day – the first time I had been back. I and my brother, Rob (our other friend could not make it at the last minute) flew to the IOM from Squires Gate in Blackpool in a rickety old propellor driven small aircraft. Meanwhile Christeen, who came from Rutherglen and was holidaying with her sister Irene and friends Christine and Anne, travelled there by ferry from Ardrossan.
The excursion on my first day there was to Laxey and its famous waterwheel. Unfortunately, as can be seen, it was covered in as it is being repaired.
Later in the day we travelled to Douglas, the main town, on the IOM where we all stayed in different Bed and Breakfast accommodation all those years ago.
I met Christeen, her sister and friends in 1967 outside the Sefton Hotel. My brother and I were with two friends, we met there in the IOM, Pete and Dave from Maghull near Liverpool. All eight of us went into the Villiers Hotel for a drink and paired off – me with Christeen. The girls were convinced that I was Irish because of my strong Somerset accent, which I have sadly lost over the years. Sadly, the Villiers is no more! It has been demolished and is now a bank, see below for the Villiers as it was in the late 60s and what has replaced it.
