OLDEST MEMBER PASSES ON

Wed, 3rd Mar 2010

The oldest and longest standing member of the Mother's Union passed away last week at the age of 100 having joined the Onchan Branch of the Mother's Union around 1938. Lillian Pritchard and her husband Eric came to the island in 1936 very shortly after their marriage. Mr Pritchard worked for the Penmaemawr and Trinidad Lake Asphalt Company who had an office in St George's Street Douglas. The firm had applied the surfacing to the broad walkway and roadway on Douglas Promenade but this was before the Pritchard's arrival. By 1938 the young couple had moved into "Kirkdene" in Royal Avenue and that year their eldest daughter, Erica was born. It was at this time that their long association with St Peter's Church began. Eric Pritchard became Sunday School Superindenant and Lillian was involved in so many of the fundraising and social events, baking cakes whenever necessary.

Following the Second World War Mr Pritchard took the bold step and set up his own company MAPAC Limited as civil engineering contractors for road and paving works. He won the contract for the tarmacadam surfacing to the banked track in Onchan Stadium and also the concrete roads at the commissioners Ballachrink Housing Estate. These serviced the houses in Barrule Drive but also the potential buildings plots in Ballachrink Drive and Snaefell Crescent which did not get developed for another decade. These concrete roads lay forlorn between areas of long grass and were nicknamed "The Milky Way" on account of their white appearance.

Shortly after setting up his own business the Pritchards and their three daughters Erica, Hilary and Christine, moved to 27 Royal Aveneu West which Lillian ran as a guesthouse in the summer months. In those days many houses in Onchan took "visitors" and the summers were busy. On the construction side however the burst of work immediately after the war dried up and many of the local craftsmen had to look elsewhere for work, in particular at Calderhall on the construction of the nuclear power station. Many joiners entered the Martin Baker engineering works at Ronaldsway never to return to their trade.

Eric too was affected by the recession and winding up his company he took employment in Birmingham around 1954/5 whilst Lillian continued to run the guesthouse and support St Peter's Church. In 1957 his construction work took him to Iran and then this was followed by work on the M1 motorway. Eventually the family left Onchan to join him in the late 1960s. Daughter Erica became a teacher, Christine a top rate secretary/PA whilst Hilary had an acting career using her own name. She had many film roles and appeared in cameo parts in television series such as Dixon of Dock Green, The Avengers and Are you being served? She was perhaps best known in the Isle of Man for her part in The Braden Beat which would have most of the island glued to the television screen on a Sunday night to see this once St Peter's Sunday School pupil appear in comical sketches.

Eric and Lillian returned to the island in retirement and took up residence in Braddan where Lillian continued her membership of the Mother's Union. Eric passed away in February 1991 whilst daughter Hilary died in 1996. Lillian's funeral takes place at St Peter's Church on Monday 8th March at 1pm.

Back to What's Happening