ECHOES OF EXCELLENCE - the complete Margaret Summerscales tribute concert is here!

ECHOES OF EXCELLENCE - the complete Margaret Summerscales tribute concert is here!

Author: Manx Radio December 29, 2024 Duration: 1:47:40

The complete concert recorded in St Andrew's United Reformed Church, Douglas on 1st November 2024 - a tribute to opera legend MARGARET CURPHEY (Margaret Summerscales following her marriage to Philip) who died in the Spring of 2024.

The full concert features :

Glenfaba Chorale conducted by Margaret's sister, Muriel Corkish and accompanied by Jean James

Soloists Kristene Sutcliffe, Simon Fletcher, Neil Taverner and members of the Kilgallon family - all accompanied by Graham Kirkland

The compere is Alan Gelling and the concert includes the recorded voice of Margaret Curphey both singing and talking about her professional life - together with a tribute from her daughter Helen.

There is also a vote of thanks by Glenfaba Chairman Charles Fargher and a word from John Knight of the Forget Me Not Trust which fully funds the Island's Admiral Nurses who specialise in dementia care and who were a great support to the Summerscales family in the last years of Margaret's life. The proceeds of a raffle, and donations given on the night in lieu of an admission charge, were all given to the Trust.

An edited version of this concert (approx 58 minutes in length) is also available as a podcast in the Manx Radio Island Life series


Tucked away in the Irish Sea, the Isle of Man holds a unique culture and community spirit that’s both deeply traditional and dynamically modern. Manx Radio's Island Life Series-Specials delves into the stories that define this place, moving beyond the postcard views to explore the real rhythms and conversations of island living. Produced by Manx Radio, each episode in this collection is a standalone deep dive, focusing on a particular person, tradition, or contemporary issue with the care and context it deserves. You might hear from a native Manx speaker reviving the Celtic language, a fisherman discussing changing seas, or an archivist uncovering a forgotten chapter of local history. This podcast serves as an audio documentary series, capturing the nuances of Manx society-from folklore and music to governance and environmental challenges. It’s for anyone curious about how geography shapes identity, offering listeners an intimate, thoughtful portrait of a small nation navigating its path. The conversations are rich, the subjects are varied, and the perspective is authentically local, providing a genuine connection to this distinctive island and its people.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Manx Radio's Island Life Series - Specials
Podcast Episodes
Christmas at the Flicks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:18
Tom Cain and Lisa Smith take their annual trip to the flicks to play you some of the finest festive movie songs.
A Manx Christmas Ghost Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:29
Rhian Evans gathers together a number of Manx residents to share a collection of mysterious, and sometimes chilling, ghost stories.
40 Years of Blood, Sweat and Beers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:46
In 1985 an independent brewer produced his first barrel of beer... and a local legend was born. That brewer was Martin Brunnschweiller and he tells Manx Radio's Dave Moore about the journey from a small cellar on Victori…
Two Old Fauteuils in the Night [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:27
John Moss takes a trip into the archives to bring you a programme from the 1990s, where David Callister and Terry Cringle share memories of the "Golden Age of Cinema".
MANX RADIO BLOOPERS 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:00
A collection of all the sh**e bits of Manx Radio for your delectation. It's not as long as you'd think, so either we're getting better or standards are getting lower . . .
A South African Christmas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:28
Chanelle Sukhoo and Darren Timson bring you the sounds and memories of a South African Christmas.
REWIND 16 DECEMBER 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:50
H looks back at just a taster of some of Manx Radio's output over the last 12 months - from the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War Two to a group of young Manx folk musicians appearing at the Albert Hall
Remembrance Day Special 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:50
On the day people across the nation pause to remember those who've died in conflict and served in our armed forces, we hear more about the Manx forces who had a different experience of war. In this special Island Life Si…
Remembrance Reflections [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:56
For Remembrance Sunday, John Moss reflects on the reason why we pause today to recall those who laid down their lives, in particular those from a small island.
CELIA MEADE'S STORY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:11
This year, people around the world have been marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War. This is the story of Isle of Man resident Celia Meade and her experience as a prisoner of war in Burma. Speaking to Lew…