Interview with Herbert ('Bert') Quirk and Mrs Maureen Quirk about working as hoteliers, Cunard Hotel, Loch Promenade, Douglas, 1958-1998
Audio Player:
Date(s): December 1998
Creator(s): Manx Heritage Foundation
Scope & Content: Track 1: Mr and Mrs Quirk talk to John Beckerson about his family before the Second World War in Liverpool; moving to the Isle of Man and staying at the Westlakes; his mother’s work as hotel head cook; his schooldays at Braddan School; living in old Spring Valley; Douglas Promenade. Maureen talks about moving to the Isle of Man and her first impressions; running the Cunard Hotel. They talk about buying Silver Sands in 1978/79; promenade hotels and owners; son Nigel going into the hotel business; Government grants scheme for hotel improvements; work for Co-op making deliveries to hotels; being President of Hotel Association; serving in the hotel bar; problems with hotel grading and classification; transport links; selling package holidays through Travel Services; hotel staffing; hotel meals and kitchen; guest behaviour; elderly and disabled access to hotels; cracks and subsidence; IRIS scheme; planning restrictions; tourist board; Chris Robertshaw, Association President; hotels in disrepair and future sell-off.
Track 2: They talk about hotel consortium which owns the Balmoral, the Modwena, the Osborne, the Kensington, Stone Leigh and possibly the Claremont; Loch Wood becoming apartments; ‘Ben My Chree’ too big if fewer visitors; hotels closing; summer shows reduced; services for attracting visitors; heritage sites; entertainment; televisions in hotels rooms; regular hotel visitors coming for 30 years.
Administration / Biographical History: Herbert Davidson Quirk was born 19/12/1938. Maureen Ann Quirk was born 10/06/1940. (Information provided by their son, David Quirk, November 2022). John Beckerson, researcher, born 1974.
Language: English
Extent: 2 hr. 34 min. 23 sec.
Item name: cassette tape
Collection: Sound Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: SA 2019-0001/61
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, #UOSHHolidays
In the son of the interviewees. The dates of birth are wrong. My dad was born 19/12/1938 my mother born 10/06/1940 - David Quirk Report this
In the son of the interviewees. The dates of birth are wrong. My dad was born 19/12/1938 my mother born 10/06/1940 - David Quirk Report this