Members of the London Manx Society enjoyed their traditional harvest celebration with a service and a meal.

Appropriately, the members met in St Bride’s church in Fleet Street in the English capital and this was followed by a pub meal a few doors down the road.

Society member, Nick Alexander, who is a licensed Lay Reader led the service after president Professor Bryan Corrin had read the passage.

The congregation sang the Manx Fishermen’s Evening Hymn, Isle of Mona and Come Ye Thankful People, Come, as well as the grace set to the tune of Ellan Vannin.

Alastair Kneale recited the Lord’s Prayer in Manx, continuing a long tradition, and Sally Miller read the Tynwald Prayer.

A spokesman for the society said: ’Everyone enjoyed being back in the Punch Tavern, closed for refurbishment last year, where fish and chips and steak and mushroom pie were the most popular dishes.

’There was animated conversation as everyone caught up on personal and island news interrupted by a raffle. This contributed generously to the society’s bank balance and provided members with island mementos and the ever popular Christmas pudding, home made by Stewart Christian and reminding everyone that the society’s next gathering will be for pre-Christmas drinks in early December.’

The members attending were Elaine Abraham, Anne and Nick Alexander, Douglas and Margarita Barr-Hamilton, Bryan and Sheila Corrin, Sally and Peter Miller, Pam and Mike Fiddik, Stewart Christian, Rose Fowler with her grandson George Long, Alastair Kneale, Margaret Hunt, Nicolas and Elizabeth Watson, Sam and Mary Weller and Douglas Wellman.