Colin Jerry

Colin Jerry (Manx: Colin y Jerree; 15 June 1936 – 19 December 2008) was a Manx cultural activist best known for his contributions to Manx music through his books, Kiaull yn Theay ('Music of the folk'), published in two volumes. He was awarded the Reih Bleeaney Vanannan in 1991 for his contributions to Manx culture which were 'extensive and staggering.'

Life Colin Jerry was born in Petworth, Sussex, on 15 June 1936. During World War II his father was in the RAF and was stationed at Jurby on the Isle of Man, where Jerry and his mother visited during their holidays. Jerry grew attached to the island and returned to it often, including for his honeymoon following his marriage to Cristl in 1963. He moved to the Isle of Man permanently in 1968 when he took up a job as a teacher at Demesne Road and then Peel Clothworkers' School where he spent the rest of his career.

Manx music and dance

Colin Jerry's main musical interests when he moved to the island was New Orleans Jazz, and he came to play trumpet for the Garff City Stompers, and also occasionally for the Tholtan Builders.

Jerry pulled together Manx music collected in the twentieth Century by Mona Douglas and at the end of the nineteenth Century in A. W. Moore's Manx Ballads and Music (1896) and W. H. Gill's Manx National Music (1898). Jerry also went to the important manuscript collections of Dr John Clague, W.H. Gill and J. F. Gill in the Manx Museum for music that had never previously been in print. and also the Lowender Peran Festival.

In 1976 Jerry contributed short stories to Skeealaght, subtitled Shiartanse dy skeealyn ass beeal-arrish ny shenn Vanninee as jeh deiney elley ('Some stories from the oral tradition of the old Manx people and from other people'), published by Yn Cheshaght Ghailckagh. As well as Colin Jerry, the collection included original pieces of fiction and essays by Lewis Crellin, John Crellin and George Broderick. Having just played his favourite carol he collapsed. Friends summoned an ambulance and he was taken to Noble's Hospital, Braddan, where he died that evening. He left his wife, Cristl, and three children – Bridget, Patrick and Kate – and grandchildren.

Publications

Slongan son Juan y Clague / A Garland for John Clague: A New Book of Old Songs. (privately published). 1988. (ed. with John Kaneen).