New parish captain 'proud to make history'

The new Captain of the Parish of Arbory said she was "very proud" of being appointed to the ancient role - made more special by the fact she had "made history" by becoming the first woman in the role in the area.

Claire Whiteway was sworn in by the lieutenant governor last week, following in the footsteps of Raymond Gawne, who stepped down in February.

The captain is a mainly ceremonial role held in each of the island's 17 parishes, but responsibilities include arranging and chairing requisition meetings and election hustings - which she will be preparing for imminently, with the House of Keys general election in September.

"I'm looking forward to getting out and meeting people," she said.

Other responsibilities in the role include taking part in the annual open-air sitting of Tynwald, attending the swearing-in of any new lieutenant governor, and being on-hand during any royal visits to the parish.

Although women have previously been appointed to the role elsewhere on the island, Whiteway is the first woman to take on the role in the southern parish of Arbory.

She said she was "still getting over the whirlwind" of it all, but was "very proud" of her appointment, despite it being "something that hadn't been on my radar at all".

"I just hadn't thought I would be considered for such a role," she said.

"And it's only sort of since - when you think through the things in the community that you've done - that you appreciate that, maybe, you do more than you think you do."

The daughter of the island's first chief minister, Sir Miles Walker, Claire grew up on the Walker Brothers Dairy Farm, which meant she was "involved in agriculture, whether I wanted to be or not".

That included helping with the milk delivery rounds from a young age, which "gave me a knowledge of a lot of people" in the community, she said.

After spending more than two decades as a member with the Isle of Man Young Farmers movement, she became involved with the Southern Agricultural Show, serving as its president last year.

The Southern Agricultural Show is one of two annual events showcasing Manx farming.

Claire also sings with a local choir and performs as part of a murder mystery group, The Suspect Players, raising money for various charities.

The Parish of Arbory was a "very special and friendly place", Whiteway said, and despite some "healthy nerves", she was relishing getting stuck into the new role.

"I'm looking forward to getting more involved in parish life and attending some events that perhaps previously I wouldn't have gone to, just because they weren't on my radar or I wasn't involved," she said.

Acknowledging the work of her predecessor, who held the position for nearly 30 years, she said he "went about the role with quiet dignity" and has "the parish running through his veins".

"If I can do half the job he did, I'd be delighted," she added.

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