Best Mhks Podcasts (2026)

1
A few more of the best bits - suspicions about Santa and stories from someone who never gives interviews! 51:15

Play Pause

6h ago51:15

51:15

Another chance to hear a few gems from the shelf marked 'Christmas' in the Archive Room - including an interview with Geraldine Jamieson - the Manx Radio presenter who never gave interviews!

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - Happy 90th birthday to No Limit - and the scary end to the serial! 27:23

9M ago27:23

27:23

As the George Formby classic film No Limit prepares to celebrate it's 90th birthday, we hear from people involved in making - and showing - it back in 1935 - and it's the final episode of our archive serial - The Little Dark Cupboard - spoiler alert - it's scary!!By Radio Manx Ltd

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - more fascinating true stories from the last century - and our archive serial is reaching a gripping finale! 31:09

9M ago31:09

31:09

ETHEL GALE - aged 98 - is full of stories of life down North at the turn of the last century and LAURENCE KERMODE - breaking records by being the oldest person ever to win a class in The Guild when he was aged 100, talks about his early years and his start in the entertainment world. Plus the penultimate episode of our archive serial - The Little D…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - Great stories from Stanley Karran and David & Terry go to the pictures! 27:02

10M ago27:02

27:02

Stanley Karran, born in 1910, lived his whole life in Cregneash - so his fascinating stories are packed with gems of knowledge about the area - and David Callister and Terry Cringle go to the pictures, and chat with some of the cinema managers from the heyday of tourismBy Radio Manx Ltd

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - Manx Radio in 1971, 4,000 Irish Sea crossings, and our serial takes a dark turn! 27:42

10M ago27:42

27:42

David Callister talks with Cecil Mitchell, who was given an award after crossing the Irish Sea over 4,000 times on Steam Packet vessels, and Charles Kelly recalls the joys of the Douglas Picture Houses in the early 1900's - plus Episode 5 of 'The Little Dark Cupboard' and a chance to hear the sound of Manx Radio in 1971…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - with an auction, a ghost, a shop - and another episode of our archive serial! 29:01

10M ago29:01

29:01

In THE ARCHIVE ROOM this week we visit an auction - all the worldly goods of Dr Alexander Cannon, and a haunted church - St Barnabas in Douglas, then go shopping in 1970's Ramsey - and we finish with another episode in our archive serial - The Little Dark Cupboard, first broadcast on Manx Radio exactly 50 years ago.…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - Dr Alexander Cannon - showman, or healer? And a new character emerges in Episode 3 of The Little Dark Cupboard 28:07

10M ago28:07

28:07

Dr Alexander Cannon was a Doctor who also longed to be a magician. What happened in his private clinic and in his theatre is told by people who were there. Howard Simcocks talks about overcoming total blindness in the 1940's and there's Episode 3 of The Little Dark CupboardBy Radio Manx Ltd

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - where we meet Bill Dennard building an airport and Joan Speedie nursing before the NHS 34:35

11M ago34:35

34:35

Bill Dennard was a young surveyor who came to the Island at the end of the 2nd World War, to start building the 4 runways for Ronaldsway Airport, and Joan Speedie remembers her life as a nurse at Nobles before the arrival of the NHS. Plus there's Episode 2 of The Archive Room serial - The Little Dark Cupboard…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 3 formidable former MHK's - and the first episode of our new serial! 29:13

11M ago29:13

29:13

90-year-old Kathleen Green remembers being footloose and fancy free in Dalby; Miss Jean Thornton-Duesbury reflects on life in Bishopscourt; Mrs Elspeth Quayle (MHK for Castletown from 1971 to 1981) and Miss Katherine Cowin (MHK for Douglas East from 1971 to 1976) reflect on their time in Government, and we've the first part of our new serial from t…

1
THE BEST OF THE ARCHIVE ROOM - SO FAR! An end-of-year collection of funny and fascinating stories told by the people who were there! 53:19

1y ago53:19

53:19

We're ending a year in The Archive Room with another chance to hear a great collection of funny and fascinating stories of Island life in years gone by - told by the people who were there. Ellen (Cissy) O’Brien and Inkerman Faragher remember life in the Douglas Children's Home, Laura Briggs recalls a frightening incident during World War II, Charli…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - an energetic salesman, a trip to the Baldwin Valley, a farewell to the Lady of Mann - and more! 30:37

1y ago30:37

30:37

In The Archive Room this week .... Louise Quirk talks with Captain Corteen in 1971 as the Lady of Mann made a farewell trip to the Calf of Man before leaving the Isle of Man for good. Historian Peter Kelly talks to David Callister about the very early days of the Gaiety Theatre - and we get a first taste of electronic music from the Sulby Phantom B…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - Remembering Nellie Brennan - and going to Ballaugh - but not as we know it! 30:34

1+ y ago30:34

30:34

In The Archive Room this week, we use a vintage episode of The History Makers, and an episode of Kelly's Eye, to recall the inspiring story of Nellie Brennan - the "Mother" of Manx nursing. Then we go North to Ballaugh - where a young Laura Briggs spent 4 years as a member of the Manx Women's Land Army during the Second World War - but this isn't a…

1
An anniversary, an army, an advocate, and a few vintage commercials - we're turning back time in The Archive Room again! 27:09

1+ y ago27:09

27:09

The year is 1980 - the 150th anniversary of the IOM Steam Packet Company - General Manager Sydney Shimmin shares stories from past and present; Teacher Irene Shimmin gets a surprise new career when she goes to hire a hall, and Advocate Martin Moore shares memories of childhood and early working years - but please don't take the vintage adverts too …

1
A lighthearted look behind the microphones at Manx Radio - a Governor goes ploughing - and poems that capture Manx life 27:10

1+ y ago27:10

27:10

In The Archive Room this week - Dee Lewis reflects on 16 very varied years working at Manx Radio; we discover just how difficult it is to make a radio commercial, and a Governor tries his hand at ploughing at Cronk-y-Voddy. Plus - two very different poems - one by Patsy Everett and another by Ronnie Fell - offer snapshots of Island life…

1
The great flood of '82, a Flying Flea and a Luton Minor, and Radio Isabella takes to the airwaves - we tell their stories - and more - in The Archive Room tonight! 27:22

1+ y ago27:22

27:22

In The Archive Room this week - Charles Guard reports on the 1982 flood - the worst the Island had ever experienced; former Lt Governor Sir Laurence New shares some Tynwald Day thoughts; inventor and adventurer Jack Carine is remembered by his two daughters, and Radio Isabella takes to the air - from its studios in Laxey Primary School!…

1
Film making, family life, an airship - and a little tribute to a big man - our own John Kaneen RVB 27:25

1+ y ago27:25

27:25

Kathleen Morrey recalls the time her home was used as a film set - John Kelly recalls his years as a butcher in Peel - residents of Glenside are full of tales of family life - Group Captain David Scouller talks about an airship - and we celebrate a very famous song that would never have been written, had it not been for our own John Kaneen ..... it…

1
Life in a Children's Home, wartime experiences, raising seven children, and 40 years in the world of politics - that was life for two tough Manxies - meet them here! 27:20

1+ y ago27:20

27:20

In this first programme of the new series, David Callister talks with Inkerman Faragher and with Ellen O'Brien (also known as Cissy) Born in 1924 and 1922 respectively, they both spent the majority of the childhood in the Children's Home in Douglas, following the death of their parents. Here they share memories of their childhood, including being f…

1
More nuggets of nostalgia as we take a last look, for this year, at the shelf marked Tourist Trophy in the Archive Room 32:03

1+ y ago32:03

32:03

This programme has extra content, not in the broadcast edition! A potted history of the TT Races - from journalist and race commentator Geoff Cannell, teaches us that, in its early days, it didn't involve bikes at all, and even when the bikes did join in, the race was never about speed! Manx Radio's first Managing Director, John Grierson, explains …

1
Get your leathers and your helmet on - we're travelling back in time to find vintage TT stories and soundbites! 25:02

1+ y ago25:02

25:02

From the shelf marked TOURIST TROPHY in the Manx Radio Archive Room ..... Johnny Gelling shares stories of marshalling at the Highlander in his native Crosby Felix Gale explains how he built up a flourishing camping business in Glen Wyllin Politician Jack Nivison discusses how the Island's road surfaces were improved - and how it affected the road …

1
WE'RE IN HOLIDAY MOOD IN THE ARCHIVE ROOM TONIGHT! 24:51

1+ y ago24:51

24:51

In this episode of The Archive Room, we take a closer look at the tourist industry on the Isle of Man in the years between the two Wars. In 1919 the Falcon Cliff Hotel was deemed a white elephant - it couldn't make money - but that was before Mr and Mrs Kane bought it in 1919 - and in the early 1920's turned its fortunes around. Tonight we find out…

1
ELECTRIC CARS, TAXIS FOR STARS, AND BROADCASTING THE TT RACES! 24:49

2y ago24:49

24:49

We're on the move in The Archive Room this week ..... The Curator of the Marown Motor Museum tells David Callister about some of more unusual vehicles on display there; Alfred Duggan talks taxis - reminiscing about the early days of his business when he drove stars and sporting heroes around the Island - and Geoff Cannell and Charles Webster tell D…

1
A COUPLE OF DOUGLAS BUTTIES - AND EVERYDAY LIFE ON THE CALF OF MAN! 25:11

2y ago25:11

25:11

In The Archive Room this week ..... Politician and former Speaker of the House of Keys, Victor Kneale CBE and his wife Thelma chat with David Callister (recorded in around the year 2003) about the need to keep the Manx language alive, and share some of the Manx words they use in everyday conversation. Leslie Garrett (born in 1932) reflects on the y…

1
THOSE FIRST TT BROADCASTS ON MANX RADIO - DOT TILBURY KNOWS WHAT REALLY HAPPENED .... 26:09

2y ago26:09

26:09

In The Archive Room this week - a young Dot Tilbury showcases her natural talent as a topical and hilariously funny entertainer - sharing all the behind-the-scenes adventures when Manx Radio first began live broadcasting of the TT Races: We make a first visit to the Baldwin Valley in the company of Manx Radio's Charles Webster talking with Tom Cowe…

1
IT ALL STARTED IN A TRENDY LONDON TAVERN - 200 YEARS AGO! 24:29

2y ago24:29

24:29

As part of Manx Radio's special series of programmes to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, in The Archive Room this week we explore the life of Sir William Hillary, a Yorkshireman who came to live in the Isle of Man, and having seen at first hand the significant and regular loss of life throu…

1
...AND THE HORSE DECIDED "I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS" .... 24:38

2y ago24:38

24:38

In The Archive Room this week, I'm selecting some gems from the shelf marked TRAVEL - David Callister talks with Wilson Gibb who, for the last 20 years of his working life, was Manager of the Douglas Horse Tram Service - but that wasn't how he started - the full and fascinating story is here! Celia Joughin and Edith Cutsforth joined the staff of Pe…

1
DISREGARD EVERYTHING YOU'RE ABOUT TO EAT! 25:13

2y ago25:13

25:13

In The Archive Room this week, Eva Kane remembers a wartime royal engagement at the Howstrake Hotel in Onchan, Irene Shimmin recalls teaching in the 1950's, and her connection with the Douglas Carnival, and The Majorettes; we have our first meeting with Alfie Duggan - caddying at the Fort Anne Golf Links at the tender age of 8 - and Wilson Gibb sha…

1
SIT DOWN, WHILE I THUMP YOU! 26:24

2y ago26:24

26:24

In The Archive Room this week .... Irene Shimmin recalls a fascinating family history, shares some memories of her own childhood, and describes the start of her teaching career. Laurie Davies tells how wonderful childhood holidays in Ramsey filled him with a love for the Island which later shaped his life as a teacher and Jean Skinner (nee Corkish)…

1
A 1920's childhood, holidaymakers, hoteliers, and interesting animals and their owners - find them all in The Archive Room 24:52

2y ago24:52

24:52

Victor Kneale was born in 1918 and grew up in central Douglas - he recalls a happy childhood, and a time when the Island was over-run with holidaymakers - and every home welcomed them in. Mrs Nancy Mills takes John Kennaugh by surprise with her story of the Doctor and the monkey - and listen out for the mention of the donkey who liked to stop for a…

1
We're back in The Archive Room - more stories of Island life, told by the people who were there. 25:04

2y ago25:04

25:04

Legendary entertainer Dot Tilbury reflects on her childhood and shares some precious Christmas memories - there's also stories from Dot's working life in London in the Swinging 60's, and stories from her homecoming to the Island - and discovering the joy of working with the very talented and amusing Ian Qualtrough. There's a couple of stories from …

1
We're taking a another stroll round The Archive Room - pausing at the shelf marked CHRISTMAS 24:35

2y ago24:35

24:35

The Three Wise Men of Manx Radio - Bernie Quayle, David Callister and Terry Cringle sit down round the table to share Christmas memories from their respective childhoods. Mother and Daughter Mary Radcliffe and Claire Quayle reflect on life on a poultry farm - for Mary, raising geese and turkeys, and preparing them for the table at Christmas, was ve…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 26 OCTOBER 2023 27:48

2y ago27:48

27:48

This is the last in the present series of The Archive Room Hollantide Day survives largely in name only nowadays, but once the 12th of November was a hugely important date in farming life - we explore the centuries-old traditions in conversation with two great countrymen - John Kennaugh and Harvey Briggs - with a little Manx history from Dr Fenella…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 19 OCTOBER 2023 26:06

2y ago26:06

26:06

In this week's episode, David Callister talks to Walter Clarke about his work in the late 1940's recording the last native Manx speakers. Walter explains the challenges of working with an American tape recorder and an unreliable electricity supply - but nevertheless managing to collect some wonderful stories of Island life - including various diffe…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 12 OCTOBER 2023 26:22

2y ago26:22

26:22

From the Manx Radio archives this week- David Callister talks with Mrs Daphne Corlett about her well-equipped Manx cottage kitchen, full of vintage items from the Edwardian and Victorian era. Euan Kelly of Kelly's Souvenirs explains how a passing interest became a very successful business, and Louise Quirk visits the Manx Museum to talk with techni…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 5 OCTOBER 2023 26:00

2y ago26:00

26:00

In this episode we go to Peel - to hear memories of fishing for herrings and producing kippers, as David Callister talks with Eddie Leece - famous as the founder of a museum devoted to Peel history, which became known as The Leece Museum. John Kennaugh chats with Callin Hudson to find out how herrings came to Dalby, and Peter Canipa, who ran Devera…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 28 SEPTEMBER 2023 25:23

2+ y ago25:23

25:23

In this episode, it's Harvest time in The Archive Room, as the late John Kennaugh takes us on a nostalgic trip to farms on the Island, in an era when bringing in the harvest was done with very little machinery and a lot of manual labour; when there was no harvest thanksgiving until the harvest was completely in, and when Mill Days and Tea Fights we…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 21 SEPTEMBER 2023 25:09

2+ y ago25:09

25:09

Welcome to the first episode of our autumn amble around the Manx Radio archive - eavesdropping on conversations with more wonderful characters. On this programme, we meet Mrs Mabel Bean, the very first female resident to move into Cummal Mooar on Ramsey Promenade, when it opened its doors in 1981. Despite being over a hundred years old when this co…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 29 JUNE 2023 25:07

2+ y ago25:07

25:07

We're all aboard the steam railway in this episode - with stories from people who devoted their working life to the smooth running of the trains that were such an important part of Island life in years gone by. Cyril Mylchreest recalls his days as Station Master in Port Soderick and then at Union Mills, in conversation with Charles Guard. And when …

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 22 JUNE 2023 25:09

2+ y ago25:09

25:09

David Callister talks to Mike Ventre about a lifetime working in the Isle of Man Fire Service - from the days when recruitment depended upon your shoe size, and a small number of dedicated firefighters worked very long hours - to the lighter side of the work - involving a disappearing fireman, and a bottle of rum that wasn't quite what it seemed to…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 15 JUNE 2023 25:09

2+ y ago25:09

25:09

Master storyteller (and natural comedian) Ian Qualtrough introduces us to a host of characters in this edition of The Archive Room - family members, neighbours, staff in the family business and great characters he came to know through a lifetime spent in the south of the Island. There's Willie Sayle, Aunt May, Albert 'Alfonso' Craine, Dick the Bumb…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 8 JUNE 2023 25:01

2+ y ago25:01

25:01

The 1935 comedy film No Limit tells the story of a Wigan chimney sweep determined to ride in the famous TT Race. Starring George Formby and Florence Desmond, it was a massive international success, and screening it in all the Island's cinemas became an essential part of the TT festival each year. In The Archive Room this week we hear from locals in…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 1 JUNE 2023 24:51

2+ y ago24:51

24:51

It's an entertainment special this week - with stories from Manx Radio's Archive Room from the days when the Island's cinemas were 'packed to suffocation'. Charles Kelly recalls his childhood visits to the cinema during the First World War years - Charles Draper and Laurie Kissack discuss their years as cinema managers, Eddie Leece remembers a Peel…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 25 MAY 2023 25:06

2+ y ago25:06

25:06

Another trip down memory lane, using material from the Manx Radio archives. As well as being a prominent figure in Island life, Donald Gelling is also a great storyteller, and in conversation with David Callister he looks back over his childhood - he was born in 1938 - his schooldays and getting his first job. And transport expert Robert Hendry joi…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 18 MAY 2023 25:11

2+ y ago25:11

25:11

In The Archive Room this week, we've been finding stories of policing on the Island in the 1930's and 1940's as told to David Callister by Arthur Underhill and Hector Duff - who both spent the majority of their working life serving the community as members of the Island's police force. Next week's programme will include a selection of stories on a …

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 12 JANUARY 2023 25:11

3y ago25:11

25:11

In this nostalgic meander down Manx Memory Lane, FRANK DOWNWORTH recalls leaving school at the age of 14 in 1946 and spending the first five years of his working life on the railway at Ramsey Station. He has fond memories of the staff - and a fund of stories - some frightening, and some funny - from his time there. Harry Kelly's thatched cottage is…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 5 JANUARY 2023 25:08

3y ago25:08

25:08

In past times on the Island, the Christmas period was known as The Foolish Fortnight and ran from Black Thomas' Eve - 21st December - and ended on Old Christmas Day - 6th January. Much like today, it was a time for socialising, eating, music and dancing! It was also a time for traditional Manx customs, and who better to talk about them than MONA DO…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 23 DECEMBER 2022 52:46

3y ago52:46

52:46

It's a festive special from the Manx Radio archives today - this collection of Christmas stories, woven into other memories of Manx life, features the voices of John Kennaugh, Noel Cringle, Mrs Pat Corrin, Keith Teare, Mrs Nancy Mills, Hubert and Doreen Kermeen of Ballacraine, Howard Hampton, and the Aeg Threshlyn Children's Choir…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 22 DECEMBER 2022 24:30

3y ago24:30

24:30

In this programme, we're taking a collection of stories, thoughts and reflections from the shelf marked CHRISTMAS in the Archive Room. Three Wise Men of Media - Terry Cringle, Bernie Quayle and David Callister - share childhood Christmas memories; Mary Radcliffe admits that turkey farming is hard work for adults - but for her daughter Claire it was…

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 15 DECEMBER 2022 24:52

3y ago24:52

24:52

In this episode drawn from recordings in the Manx Radio Archives .... NORMAN BARRON recalls his early years, growing up in Kirk Michael as the eldest of nine children, starting work at 14 years of age, and eventually finding the career that suited him best - delivering the mail - and so much more! We return to Ballabeg as Mrs IRENE CURPHEY recalls …

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 8 DECEMBER 2022 24:58

3y ago24:58

24:58

We're back in The Archive Room to bring you another series of nostalgic looks at Island life in years gone by, through stories told by the people who were there. In this episode, we meet a former Head of Michael School - Tom Cashin - who remembers the harsh winter of 1962/3 but also has a great story of determination, from 1895 ! Mrs Irene Curphey …

1
THE ARCHIVE ROOM - 22 SEPTEMBER 2022 26:30

3+ y ago26:30

26:30

Douglas Buxton's massive contribution to music on the Isle of Man - as a singer, a teacher and a choral director - can never be understated. But in this Episode 6 of The Archive Room, we hear DB - as he was affectionately known - talking about his early years, and the influence of another legend - his Father, Fred Buxton, and of his experiences gro…