The Methodist Ladies’ Luncheon Club enjoyed a very interesting and rewarding half session of this year’s programme.

In October Pauline Brew spoke very knowledgeably, movingly and admiringly on the life of Henry Bloom Noble.

This month, November, we heard a most sympathetic and amusing account by Brenda Kinnish of her wide experience of a dedicated Salvation Army life.

The Life of Henry Bloom Noble

Henry Bloom Noble’s life was so special and important to the island that it needs to be emphatically recorded.

He lived from 1816 to 1903 and was undeniably the greatest Manx benefactor ever.

He is not always remembered now for the remarkable significant personality he was.

His name is everywhere on the island, yet he himself does not figure amongst Manx Worthies in the Museum.

Once in a talk on the history of Ramsey Cottage Hospital unbelievably his name was not mentioned, and again, in a speech on historical memories of St Ninian’s Church - the church for which he supplied so much money, his great support was overlooked.

His story is one of rags to riches, his success owed to his strong resolution, intelligence and drive.

Coming from a poor Cumbria failed farming family on the verge of starvation he found employment on the island in a wines and spirits firm where in 1835, at 19, he rose to manager.

Finally he ran his own business.

The island was in its very early days as a holiday resort and Henry Bloom Noble bought shares in land, property and money lending. Apparently he was not always endeared to the Manx.

Living in Derby Square with his mother as poverty had divided the family, he developed his flourishing wines and spirits firm on North Quay, trading successfully with English and foreign ports, selling shares at profit in the 1850s and, while only in his 40s, becoming the richest man in the Isle of Man.

In 1862 he married Rebecca, a well-connected, good, deeply Christian woman who shared his enterprising vision. She was well off too and apparently enlightened as they shared a pre-nuptial agreement.

The 1860s saw the start of the island’s tourist industry when Governor Loch and Samuel Harris were putting the island on the map with the building of Douglas Promenade (Lock Prom and Harris Terrace and Prom) sharing fame with prominent Manxman Alex Gill whose initials can be seen on house fronts.

Henry Bloom Noble became a major shareholder of the Steam Packet and, working well with Governor Loch, promoted the opening of Victoria Street, which is a main artery into Douglas.

In 1874 90,000 visitors came to the island. In 1913 it was 113,000.

Hospital land was now being sought as there was only the fever hospital in Fort Street.

Rebecca Noble owned the land and saw to the construction of the original hospital building by Crellin’s Hill, which eventually became the Museum when Noble’s hospital in Douglas was built.

The foundation stone for the first hospital was laid in 1865.

Rebecca’s proud legacy was the founding of the Douglas orphanage as she was deeply concerned with the plight of orphan children. She did not live to see the hospital opened.

The Bishop spoke at her memorial gathering and there were great crowds at the funeral procession in 1888.

Mr Noble’s amazing vision and enterprise gave the island such benefits.

All children look back fondly at hours playing in Noble’s Park, bought from Mr Spitall in 1909 from Noble’s legacy and really appreciated Noble’s swimming baths in Douglas.

Ramsey Cottage Hospital opened in 1907, funded by his money after so many people campaigned for a much-needed northern hospital.

Laxey recreation ground, the Domestic Science College in Douglas, Knockaloe near Peel, bought for an experimental farm, the Villa Marina, which opened in 1913 for all to share and, also in 1913 St Ninian’s Church, paid for and equipped, the old hospital given to the government, which became our museum and the new hospital in Westmoreland Road which opened in 1913 - all are wonderful legacies of an ambitious citizen of the island.

There was also a nursing fund to supply district nurses to be trained in Liverpool before returning to the island.

A tuberculosis sanatorium in Norfolk was included where some Manx folk were cared for.

Through his will, lump sums were left to benefit servants in the Villa.

Liverpool and Cumbrian infirmaries received donations. Religious charites benefited the endowed island education with the Henry Bloom Noble scholarship for the best A level results of a sixth-form pupil to help finance a university career.

I think he would have been very pleased at the way the five trustees of his legacy handled his affairs and when he died in 1903 the great procession of funeral carriages paid tribute to a very special person. He could never be forgotten.

A heartfelt vote of thanks was given to Pauline by Marion Teare.

The Salvation Army

Brenda Kinnish’s description, this present month, of a valuable life devoted to Methodism and the Salvation Army was most appreciated.

She had many amusing and moving tales to tell of living in a variety of places. At one time she had lived in 11 addresses in nine years, usually around on year in each.

In 1865 the Reverend William Booth and his wife Catherine had a desire to preach to promote the general welfare of fellow citizens and decided to move to London.

In Mile End, London’s East End, from a tent on Mile End Waste he was asked to speak when the invited speaker had not turned up.

From this came the Christian Mission which preceded the Salvation Army - a name which emphasised that this organisation was fighting a war, a war against all the evils of society - poverty, homelessness, alcoholism and general misery.

Something must be done.

A hostel was opened and social work developed to serve suffering humanity which finally founded the largest social organisation in Britain which it has remained down the years - the very special Salvation Army.

Brenda Kinnish had stories of success. One Brighton alcoholic was encouraged to enter a detox centre, was dried out and after months returned to Brighton, married and was finally carrying the Salvation Army flag and leading the band.

There was prison visiting in Lincolnshire of sex offenders going through hard rehabilitation, along with memories of the Quakers, who were very helpful in the struggle.

She had amusing recollections of helping to lay out and dress the body of a wife whose husband had to find a dress for her and he was worried it was not aired; of the song chosen at the funeral of an old retired officer - ’Oh happy, happy day. All things pass away’, of a child’s calling out she said ’God Bless you’ when no one had sneezed!

There was the riveting incident of Major James Cocker marrying someone of equal Army rank whom Brenda welcomed as ’Major Cocker and Mrs Cocker too’.

In Lewes prison where the Army band had gone to play a solo was chosen to be sung entitled ’Bless this house’.

Once working in a Deptford slum post she was helping a man there in custody for disorderly behaviour and trying to sort out clothing for him. When asked what he needed he shouted ’everything’ and threw open this coat to prove it.

People were comforted through drug and drink addiction, though not always cured.

In Grantham comfort was given out every day of the year.

Meals were taken out to pavements and people slowly encouraged to talk and to come inside and sit alongside other people.

* London’s World’s End the Salvation Army hall was right next to the worst drug addiction area.

Brenda has seen all life from helping to de-louse homeless addicts and pacing up and down with them, helping to restore mobility.

She was strongly guided by the Biblical words ’I was hungry and you fed me and I was a stranger and you took me in’.

he was sustained by a strong conviction that God can change the hearts of men.

A very sincere vote of thanks was given by Helen Taggart to Mrs Kinnish.

Sue Freeman