A true Manxman whose life embraced music, sport and military service will be fondly remembered later this week.

The funeral of Joe Cain of Onchan, who has passed away at the age of 96, will be held at Braddan Church at 2pm on Thursday (September 10).

Joe was born into an island community that would remain central to his life. His story with his beloved wife, Margaret - they celebrated 70 years of marriage in January this year - began in their younger days. Joe had been in the Army Cadets with Margaret’s twin brothers, Doug and Jim. Margaret was a member of the Braddan Church choir and, despite always joking that she ‘couldn’t sing’, Joe would meet her after choir practice and walk her home to Circular Road.

The couple shared a love of sport. Margaret played hockey, while Joe became a keen and accomplished athlete, taking part in marathon and fell running, cycling and race walking, as well as football. He competed in the Parish Walk and Mountain Marathon and his exploits regularly featured in the local sports pages, where athletics reporter Peter McElroy affectionately referred to him as the ‘Red Fox’.

Joe’s military career began with the Army Cadets, where he took on the role of drum major, leading parades and helping to organise the cadet band, before being called up for National Service. Fittingly, he arrived at Oswestry on Tynwald Day in 1951 and was assigned to the 49th Royal Artillery Gunners. His service later took him to Malta and Cyprus, beginning a lifelong connection with the Royal Artillery.

Joe remained a long-serving member of the Royal Artillery Association and served as its chairman for around a decade. His military service also helped forge his enduring love of brass bands and he joined Onchan Silver Band, an organisation which became a lifelong passion.

Four of his grandchildren would later follow in his footsteps, representing almost a century of family involvement with the band, and Joe was immensely proud when he was asked to become a life member.

The family unit was complete with the arrival of daughters Tina, Lynne and Julie.

His closest lifelong friend was the late Willie Kneale BEM. Joe and Margaret shared many happy times with Willie.

Joe and Margaret shared many happy times with Willie and his wife Joan, enjoying dancing at the Royal British Legion Club and Douglas Pensioners, as well as trips to Blackpool, where they joined fellow Royal Artillery members for their annual social gathering.

He began his working life as a butcher at Stevie Quirk’s butchers before later becoming an engineer, working at Martin Baker, Dowty’s and Marown Engineering.

Joe leaves behind Margaret, their three daughters, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, who brought him immense pride and joy.

A proud Manxman, devoted husband, dad, grandad and great-grandad, Joe leaves behind a lifetime of memories – on the sports field, in uniform, in the band, in the community and, most importantly, among the family he loved so dearly.