Interview with George Freestone mainly about his time performing in the White Boys play (Ny Guillyn Baney)
Audio Player:
Date(s): 6 January 2009
Scope & Content: George Freestone talks about performing with the White Boys; leaving the Isle of Man after the Second World War for work; his return home; the five members of the White Boys; how the play relates to St George and the Dragon; door-to-door performances for Christmas money; his character of St Valentine; his opening introduction and St George battle scene; Teddy Blackburn's part as the Doctor; Hunt-the-Wren on Boxing Day; White Boys costume; Teddy Blackburn's mother and sister; white paper coats and hats; learning lines; Lady Wilson's script; the five cast member roles.
He talks about life in Castletown; friends; community spirit; Victoria Road School; schoolmaster J.F.P. Qualtrough; when the White Boys go out before Christmas; Hunt-the-Wren on Boxing Day starting at the age of 10; having pneumonia in 1939; giving up the White Boys when he became a teenager; training another group to take over; respect for Hunt-the-Wren; last group of Castletown White Boys; Fred Philips; John Kelly-Cubbon; Arthur Clague; Teddy Blackburn, town clerk; Teddy Blackburn's mother and sister organising the White Boys; community spirit; when the White Boys visited houses; his mother's promotion of the British Women's Total Abstinence Union; father working as a gardener; anecdote of father returning home from the pub; mother's family name, Kewish; Freestone from Cambridgeshire; the Mollagh Band; Hop-tu-naa; turnip lanterns; candle in a jam jar; the White Boys costume; Teddy Blackburn calling the tune; white wooden swords and white hats; Teddy Blackburn's mother and sister Iris living at the big house in Malew Street; Mrs Braaid dressing him up in green and yellow crepe paper for Hunt-the-Wren; and Lewis Braaid.
Administration / Biographical History: George Freestone was born in Castletown, Isle of Man in 1921.
Language: English
Extent: 31 min. 11 sec.
Item name: compact disc
Collection: Sound Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: SA 2009-0002
Access conditions: All reasonable attempt has been made by Manx National Heritage to trace and request permission (where needed) from the copyright holder(s) in this sound recording. If however you think you are a rights holder then please contact Manx National Heritage.
Subject tags : #UOSH, #UOSHArts