Peel Heritage Trust launched our newest book, The Enchanting Island of Cushag, the poetry of Margaret Letitia Josephine Kermode, 1852 - 1937, compiled by committee member, Bill Quine in style!

The book contains a short biography followed by the first, printed collection of all known 105 poems together with illustrations, many original.

Cushag, her pen name, was born in 1852 in Parliament Street, Ramsey to the Rev William Kermode and the second of his three wives. She was the 7th of 14 children. One of her brothers, P.M.C. Kermode, produced the definitive book on Manx crosses and was the first Director of the Manx Museum.

Peel Heritage Trust has a policy of engaging with our children in order to keep our heritage and culture alive. This is why we chose the school and World Book Day for the launch. We have donated eight dozen books to the Education Department to be shared around the schools. These were accepted by Jo’ Collister, Advisory Teacher for the Manx Curriculum.

The schoolchildren and staff were all beautifully dressed as their favourite storybook characters. We guests, including Ray Harmer, one of our MHK’s, representatives from Peel Heritage Trust and Bill Quine, of course felt rather outclassed.

Mrs Bridge Carter and Mrs Di Benson of Poetry Unlimited read examples of their work and two children, the misses Charlotte Dalgleish and Chloe Gelling each read a Cushag poem.

Bill finished by reading the first half of a poem, entitled, " Bobby and the Buggane." The children have been invited to finish the poem as a competition. The winning entry will be published and we’ll also make an award.

The children were perfectly behaved and involved as were the staff! We guests finished up with tea and Bill’s bonnag containing cream - a fitting end to a lovely occasion.

Books are being distributed to our usual outlets. A thoroughly good read as well as an important contribution to our heritage!

John Slater

Peel Heritage Trust