Commissioners Picture Gallery 2009 -
Civic Sunday 24th May 2009

Preparing for the off, Chairman of Marown Parish Commissioners Terry Miles is on the left accompanied by fellow commissioner Jim Kennedy one time Marketing Manager for the old Isle of Man Tourist Board.  They stand chatting to the newly elected Chairman of Onchan Commissioners Brian Stowell wearing his insignia of office supported by a two tier chain which was presented to the commissioners by Coutts Bank during their time in the village.

From Castletown comes Vice Chairman Kevin Weir wearing his chain of office (not usually worn unless deputising for the chairman), his wife Adrienne, Mrs Joan Collister and Chairman of Castletown Commissioners Alwyn Collister. 

In the background the band and scouts line up and proceeded without the line of guests in place.

The parade leads off down School Road behind Onchan Silver Band.  The parade is on open roads but is led by a police officer. 

Inspector Helen Mason was also in attendance and can just be seen behind the band and beneath the Manx flag.

Fire Chief Brian Draper who was brought up in Onchan walks alongside former commissioner Fred Griffin (1974 - 85 and 1987 - 1995) whose wife Pat was also a commissioner (1996 - 1998).  Alongside him is Alan Moore an Onchan village Commissioner from 1974 until 1984.

The group is now totally independent and local.  They meet in Morton Hall, Church Avenue, the headquarters of Onchan Pensioners Social Club.

Commissioner Keith Watterson walks alongside former commissioner Tim Norton (2001 - 2008).  Behind them came the other commissioners with the exception of Mr Steve Babb who was not present.

Heading into the churchyard are (left to right) Commissioner Derek Crellin, Terry Black, Ernie Thorn and June Kelly.  Slightly behind them is Tom Reed of chartered accountants KPF.  Coming up behind at the end of the procession is Board Chairman Brian Stowell and Malcolm Hulme the Clerk to the Commissioners.

Ready to walk through the opened up ranks to lead the parade into St Peter's Church are Chairman of Onchan District Commissioners Brian Stowell, Clerk Malcolm Hulme and Captain of the Parish Harvey Briggs wearing his insignia of office on the blue ribbon around his neck and his Tynwald Award on his lapel.

Shaking hands with Licensed Reader Nigel Cretney on the way into church is His Honour Deemster Kerruish accompanied by his wife, former Laxey Commissioner, Marianne, sister of MLC Dudley Butt.  Behind them are commissioners June Kelly and Ernie Thorn

Doug Porter carried the standard for the Onchan Branch of the Royal British Legion. 

There used to be a men's branch and women's section but they were merged some years ago when the number of female members declined.

The procession of choir and clergy go before the colour party from the scouts and Royal British Legion (Onchan Branch). 

The Onchan Methodist Church was represented by Reverend Verity Phillips, St Anthony's RC Church by Deacon Graham Priest, commissioner June Kelly in her Salvation Army uniform also took part in the ceremony. 

Licensed Readers Carole Bairstow and Nigel Cretney proceed before Reverend Canon Malcolm Convery.

Onchan School Choir sang during part of the service wearing their choir T-shirts.

Three readers were provided by Ashley Hill School.  Licensed Reader at St Peter's, Nigel Cretney listens attentively through the rood screen erected in 1933 to commemorate the centenary of the church and made by Kelly Brothers of Kirk Michael.

Local garage proprietor Haydn Minay and his wife Marion chat with the chairman.  When Haydn first set up his own business in The Butt at Onchan it was in the garage in which the chairman's father Roy "Strawberry" Stowell kept his coaches and lorries.  Only part of it now exists as the walls to the compound alongside the new garage that Haydn built on the site of the former parochial school.

Former Clerk to the Commissioners (1969 - 2005) Eddie Smith speaks with the Chairman on his way out of church.  As clerk, his last year in office coincided with the Chairman's first year as a commissioner.  In the background is Peter Kennaugh, an Onchan Parish Commissioner from 1979 to 1986 (chairman December 1981 - April 1983) and a District Commissioner 1986 to 1992 (chairman 1991 - 92).

Tom Reed from Pannell, Kerr, Foster (PKF) chartered accountants who undertake a bookkeeping role for the commissioners, is thanked for his attendance by the Chairman.

A family picture before heading to the reception. 

Chairman Brian Stowell with his wife Tina and their son Luke returned into the church whilst the guests made their way to the reception at the Youth and Community Centre.

The Reverend Canon Malcolm Convery, Vicar of Onchan is thanked by the Chairman outside the Youth Centre for conducting the Civic Service and for the use of his church.

Those guests who made their way back to the Youth and Community Centre in School Road after the service enjoyed a buffet prepared by J.K. Catering of St Johns.

A final pose for the camera by the Chairman with his mother, Mrs Muriel Stowell who, along with his father Roy, for many years ran the family coach business with a garage in The Butt and a coach stand at Kensington Road.